Ridiculously good fun

Rating: 10/10 (21 August 2014)

Way back in 2008, Marvel decided to make a movie version of one of their lesser known comic book characters: Iron Man. Of course, we are now familiar with the character and the success Marvel have enjoyed but it was a bit of a risky move for them. What was even riskier was the idea that they would follow up with a number of origin movies for their other superheroes, before throwing them all into one huge summer blockbuster.
It seemed destined to fail, such was its ambition, and yet, somehow, they have pulled it off. Avengers Assemble is not the best comic book movie ever made but it is probably the most fun. Marvel's biggest coup was hiring Joss Whedon to write and direct the movie. Whedon, who had already written a number of comic books before being asked to take on Avengers, is extremely comfortable with all of the characters, giving almost everyone a fair share of the runtime.
One of the best things about Avengers Assemble is the dialogue; it is quite a feat to make a movie about a group of superheroes saving the world, and yet some of the best scenes are just two people talking. That is not to say there isn't some mind blowing action, with some of our childhood favourites slugging it out against each other before uniting against a common enemy, but it is often the verbal sparring which will have you grinning the widest.
The cast are all on top form with Downey Jr. being the star attraction, but the best character in the whole movie is not human, and perhaps not even a superhero. Mark Ruffalo's Hulk is an incredible feat, especially when you consider the previous incarnations of the character, and he is heavily involved in many of the movie's best scenes.
Possibly the most ambitious project to come out of Hollywood since four hobbits set off to destroy a magical ring; Avengers Assemble is a resounding success, ticking all the right boxes and leaving you wanting more.