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| Spot the superhero: I gatecrash the Avengers party... |
For a while now, Marvel Studios have been carefully building towards their star-studded superhero film, The Avengers (retitled Avengers Assemble in the UK, presumably so Brits don't get confused with the 60s TV show). It draws together characters from across the Marvel comic-book universe, many of whom already have their own individual movie franchises - most notably, Iron Man (which is returning for a third instalment in May 2013).
A lot is riding on this project - not only financially, but also in terms of credibility. It has to satisfy hardcore fans without alienating newcomers. Thankfully, it does this - and much more besides. Co-writer and director Joss Whedon has managed to bring together all the individual characters, without losing their identities in a melee of superhero action: Iron Man is still brilliantly egotistical, Thor remains thunderously God-like, the Hulk is wonderfully volatile, Captain America is sensitive and sensible, while Black Widow remains dangerously seductive, and Hawkeye is intensely focussed. They are forced to unite on screen to defeat a common enemy (in the form of Thor's power-hungry brother Loki) and in doing so, their personalities clash to delightful comic effect.
While Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and the rest of the cast play their super-human roles with confidence and charm, the real superhero of this film is surely Joss Whedon, who has cleverly combined huge set pieces with intricate CGI, wickedly funny banter and a cast of A-listers - ensuring viewers have a rollicking good time, whether they're a fan or not.
INTERESTING FACT: Mark Ruffalo dedicated his performance as the Hulk to his ten-year-old son, whose childhood tantrums inspired him.
