More (or less) of the same

Rating: 8/10 (11 May 2015)

AVENGERS : AGE OF ULTRON (2015) *** Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Anthony Mackie, Hayley Atwell, Idris Elba, Linda Cardellini, Stellan Skarsgard, Claudia Kim, Thomas Kretschmann, Andy Serkis. More (or less) of the same in the gang's all back to take on another life-force hellbent on destroying mankind - this time Marvel's Universe unleashes the titular artificial intelligence Frankenstein (silkily oozingly voiced by a smug Spader with spare of charm) ala Tony Stark's attempt for a global safeguard with malevolence aplenty in the long run. While the team assembled fires on all cylinders - Downey's snark, Hemsworth's powerhouse Thor, Evans' square to be hip Cap'n America - check check check - the film falters in its being quagmired in sentiment between Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton's familial wares totally wears down the come-on-already-we-get-now-get-to-the-collective-ass-kicking-already! Filmmaker Joss Whedon returns - reportedly for the final time - and while his smart screenplay runs as best as anticipated for rock 'em-sock'em and slash/burn comedy it runs on its last act with just enough oomph for a possible re-entry for the franchise. Then again why ruin a good (enough) thing anyway.