The Avengers

Legions of super hero fans have anticipated this mother of all comic book movies for half a decade as Marvel has shamelessly teased it since Iron Man in 2008. In fact, the abrupt teaser at the end of Captain America actually ruined that film for me, but I’m pleased to say that the super duper hype was actually worth it.

Before seeing the film, I feared that this mash up of marvels would be a circus similar to what happened with Iron Man 2 and the mid ‘90s Batman movies — too many characters and too many stories. But the opposite happened. What makes this film so absorbing is the interaction of the multiple characters.

Which is true to what made Marvel’s The Avengers such a revolutionary ‘60s comic book in the first place- the collection of egotistical, complicated heroes created a dynamic situation. Power struggles vs. power team dynamics. Super egos vs super friends. Here we get all that and Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. 

When these troubled freaks interact and unleash on each other, it’s a smash. Hulk – smash!

Simply put:  Marvelous. Zippy banter.  Spectacular effects. And the best Bruce Banner yet. Sure to please die hards — and casual movie fans too.

Award potential:  Unlikely. Judged against other super hero films it’s in the elite club with the first and last Batman movies, ‘70s Superman,‘90s Spiderman, 2000's Iron Man, and 2010's XMen:First Class.

The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks.