The Avengers

What do you do when people say 'it's impossible'?  What do you do when your own fans (myself included) aren't quite sure, either?  Prove them wrong.  With what could easily be described as a labor of love and his best work to date, writer-director Joss Whedon (Serenity, Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has done exactly that.  Balancing several famous comicbook characters with their own complexity and storied backgrounds, including their films, everyone is given their moments (yes, plural) to shine in unique ways without being shoved center stage.  Their flaws completely laid bare, give each of them a level of humanity I (and most people) don't usually see in a summer film.  His dialogue gives each character the wit, humor and complexity his writing is known for while maintaining a sense of serious drama, danger and even tragedy throughout the film.  Most directors can't pull that off, either.

The films mindblowing action and special effects visually weave together a balanced, dramatic, fast paced, often hilariously funny and occasionally very moving epic. That's what this film is.  An epic.  And Marvel gave him the financial sandbox to prove it.  When the story beats call for them, the director crafts white knuckle action  on a scale that makes Michael Bay look like a sissy (that's a generic word, but I like it).  Okay, so what's the difference between him and every other carbon copy action director in Hollywood?  It's simple.  I cared.  Each action beat is in a place that adds to the drama and humor that doesn't come off as a lot of useless fireworks and meaningless gun fire.  There's a real threat.  But how could Whedon pull that off with larger than life characters?  Aren't they invincible?  I can't go there without ruining the ride.  I will say that it's clever and unique every time.  When they finally win their individual battles and put aside their personal issues, forming a united front, it's an awe inspiring fanboy event.

My objectivity just went out the window.  It's that awesome. 

(Warning:  Minor spoilers ahead) 
And the actors.  What about them?  Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) is still the narcissistic scientist and billionaire, occasionally showing something like a conscience with Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) returning as his 'girl friday'.  Clark Gregg (SHIELD agent Phillip Coulson) finally gets to stretch out his performance with an expanded, more complex and charming role, even getting some serious action.   Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) is still enigmatic as ever, but he's got a greater and deeper leadership role to play with.  Chris Hemsworth (Thor) 'a demigod', seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, responsible for the actions of his damaged brother.  Tom Hiddleston (Loki)  is darker than ever (practically channeling Hannibal Lecter a few times) while still holding onto shades of an inner conflict.  Chris Evans (Captain America) 'a living legend who lives up to the legend', feels emotionally left behind and out of place in a world more cynical than the one he knew.  Each slip back into familiar territory like pros while being given new challenges by Joss Whedon's direction, his script and the action.  Scarlett Johannson (Black Widow) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) prove up to the same challenges with expanded rolls and backstories of their own compared to their brief appearances in Ironman 2 (Johannson) and Thor (Renner), even implying something darker about their shared past.  The biggest surprise of the film is Mark Ruffalo, being the third person to play the Hulk, he possibly had the hardest part.  He had to bring something new to the table without completely reverse engineering the character.  He gives Banner a surprising amount of confidence, subtlety and dry humor which seems strange compared to previous, more serious interpretations until you find out why.

With a smart, balanced script, emotionally engaging action and fantastic performances from the cast, The Avengers has done the impossible.