Fanboy Nirvana (Spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (28 April 2015)

If Whedon's films have a fault it is that he tries just a little too hard to give his audience more bang for their buck. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a major problem: indeed in episodic TV drama it is an advantage. Characters are fully-rounded and developed. The Fanboys (and girls) have their appetites for their favourite heroes fully sated. In a self-contained feature, though, this can occasionally be a burden.
I liked 'Age of Ultron'. I'm a comic-geek and a film-buff, and I think the integration of supporting characters from the 'Thor', 'Captain America' and 'Iron Man' franchises (some of whom are going to become more prominent as Downey and Renner explore other projects) was amusing. The major achievement of the first 'Avengers'movie it that it made these franchises cohesive. But if the reaction of some of the viewers grumbling in the aisles at my screening are anything to go by, it can also make for an over-busy narrative for the uninitiated.
The big guns are all good. Downey and Hemsworth dominate, but everyone gets their chance to shine (and quip). Spader's voice work as Ultron is maybe just a little arch, but it suits the tone of the movie, and Bettany's Vision provides an interesting counterpoint to all the hysteria. The dialogue is great: though some of the one- liners were verging on being just too-cute...almost a parody of a Whedon script. But busier.
The movie's biggest redeeming feature is clearly Whedon's love for his characters, and that's what stops this being just another splashy special-effects flick...but it's greatest failing is that characters, relationships and the group dynamic are oddly left hanging...at least until the NEXT episode.