Marvel's The Avengers is undoubtedly a resounding success, with most fans and critics alike falling over themselves to praise Joss Whedon's superhero mash-up. But it would be unfair to focus solely on the positives when the negatives do exist, albeit in a very small minority. Boxofficemagazine's Amy Nicholson wasn't quite as impressed with the movie as most others, giving The Avengers an average (at best) review.
She admits that the movie
"almost works", but suggest that if audiences haven't seen Marvel's previous build-up movies (
Thor, Iron Man etc) that they will be lost. She also, more than once, brings up comparisons to a certain threequel from Michael Bay -
"Apparently, bootleg copies of Transformers 3 made it to Asgard". She likes the comedy, although says there might be too much. And praises Whedon, while knocking his decision to exclude Thor's love interest Jane (Natalie Portman). Sam Jackson also comes in for a pasting for his portrayal of Nick Fury.
Here are some excerpts, for the full review click the link below..
..The Avengers almost works. It's funny and it's physical, but even at two and a half hours, it plays like it's on fast-forward. Forget character development—there's not even character explanation. The lesser Avengers are most slighted. After two movies with Black Widow and Hawkeye, I know less about them then I do the fighting Panda in Tekken..
..The comedy zings and I'd give an arm to have Whedon take over Iron Man 3, but I'm with the Cap when he sighs, "Is everything a joke to you?" In order to shoe-horn in The Avengers before Thor 2, Whedon has to shrug and ignore an ending that had Thor trapped on Asgard longing to reunite with his dream girl scientist Jane (Natalie Portman). Here, he somehow lands back on earth no problemo, and when he learns Jane was transferred six states away for her own safety, he doesn't even bother to visit. And Samuel L. Jackson continues to be the franchise's weak link as an unconvincing military bureaucrat. Though his co-stars fight in horned helmets or turn green when enraged, he can't even credibly wear an eye patch..
..If such a thing can be said about a $220 million dollar blockbuster, The Avengers needs more ambition. Sure, it's fine for most films to host their battle royale in downtown Manhattan, but the superfriends deserve more. Prehistoric metal monsters smashing up skyscrapers? We've seen that before. For Avengers 2 (because there will inevitably be an Avengers 2) ask not what Michael Bay would do to New York—ask what Hieronymus Bosch would do to anywhere he damn well pleased..
In fairness, having not seen the movie yet I'm in no position to argue with her, but it certainly seems, given what I have heard, that she is nit picking - if not completely misrepresenting the movie. But hey, that's opinions for ya. What about you guys? Have any of you seen the movie and agree with this assessment? Sound off below.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.