I didn't want it to end!

Rating: 9/10 (8 May 2012)

The first of the two most highly anticipated superhero films of the summer is here, and it doesn't disappoint. The Avengers more than makes up for the last few disappointing summer movie seasons we've had. I don't think I've had this much fun at a movie since Pixar's Up. This two and a half hour movie never fails to excite.
The plot is standard superhero movie fare. Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor's evil step brother, breaks out of prison with the aid of a race of super evil aliens. Loki proceeds to steal a super weapon from the realm of Asgard (Thor's universe) and threatens the world. Nick Fury, in a routine performance by Samuel L. Jackson, must assemble a team of superheroes to combat Loki: Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo, replacing Ed Norton), the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Loki unleashes his evil army on New York city and the Avengers must do what they always do- kick butt.
Marvel was truly clever to give these characters their own individual franchises before making an Avengers movie, and not just in a financial sense. Since we all know these characters already, the movie doesn't suffer from "too many characters syndrome," unlike another Marvel franchise about a superhero team (Marvel fans know what I mean). Each character's story continues in The Avengers and it feels perfectly natural.
It is the chemistry of this cast that really makes this film work. Personalities clash until the gravity of the situation sits in and they start to cooperate. Predictably, by the end of the film they are all friends, but why complain? It's all in good fun.
Given that these are really second tier superheroes in the Marvel Comics gallery, (sorry Avengers fans, but Spider-Man and X-Men are higher up in the hierarchy), I am amazed that they were adapted to film so well. All of these Avengers movies pulled off their protagonists VERY well, but they have slightly weak antagonists, and this movie is no exception. Loki is a decent character and Hiddleston is a decent enough actor, but he just doesn't have the dramatic weight to match the power of the Avengers.
A review wouldn't be complete without some description of the action. As expected, it's fantastic from a technical standpoint, but it's extra fun because you care about the characters so much (maybe that's just me). I personally could have used more Bruce Banner/Incredible Hulk moments- I felt he was really overshadowed by the other teammates. Ruffalo was at a disadvantage because he was taking over for Edward Norton. But the Incredible Hulk scenes are GREAT- easily my favorite action moments.
I must say this is probably my favorite Marvel superhero movie because it's just so fun. It doesn't need to get bogged down in character moments- it is just a shameless roller coaster ride. So go see the Avengers. It is the first action flick of what looks like to be a very promising summer for action movies. And be sure to stick around until the very end of the credits!