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The Avengers

(JPEG)

US, 2012, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Scarlet Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Gwynneth Paltrow. Directed by Joss Whedon.

How many superheroes does it take to save the world, especially from invaders from other planets who plan global control and have the Tessaract, a source of unlimited energy, at their disposal? Such is the question posed by this new Marvel Comics extravanganza (3D and all).

With all respect to the particular powers of each of the superheroes gathered as the Avengers Team, they cannot save the world by themselves.

When Loki (that meddlesome god, Thor’s brother, here reappearing in the form of Tom Hiddleston who often steals the show with his smug presumption and mischievous repartee) arrives on earth to achieve his mission, S.H.I.E.L.D, under the leadership of Nick Fury (Samuel L.Jackson) decides to call in the help. This means that Tony Stark and Pepper Potts (Robert Downey and Gwynneth Paltrow) have to make different plans. Bruce Banner (keeping his Hulk anger under control in the form of Mark Ruffalo) has to come in from charity work in India at the behest of Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson has a lot more to do in this one than in Iron Man 2). Now we know why Captain America (Chris Evans) has been frozen until this moment - for a new mission. And, since, Thor is Loki’s brother, the god himself turns up speaking, as one reviewer cleverly put it, like a Shakespearian Druid.

This takes up the first part of the film, audiences enjoying the opportunity to see their old heroes again. Robert Downey steals the show with his self-confident, boastful and amusing one-liners, especially taunting the rather stolid Captain America and the fighting-for-control Dr Banner. Meantime, Loki is enjoying himself at the expense of all.

The second part is the attack and the defence. Not all going well at first, especially for Hulk and Thor who find themselves hurtled into almost oblivion. But... After an attack on Manhattan (plenty of destruction) and the ruling council (very hawkish) sending a nuclear warhead to destroy the invaders, there is only split second timing for Iron Man to intercept and destroy the bomb and for Natasha Romanoff and scientist Erik Selvig (Skellan Skarsgaard recovered after he and agent Barton, Jeremy Renner, have been transformed into allies by Loki) to close the portal and destroy the aliens.

The closing credits include some indications of the future (but, the ever eager to rush to the exit at any sign of a credit audience will have missed them).

The fans are acclaiming Joss Whedon as the master of this kind of Marvel movie adventure.

Peter Malone