Stunningly Intense, Emotional, Likable and Funny!

Rating: 9/10 (29 April 2012)

Saw it yesterday with my nephews and niece and enjoyed it more than any other Marvel adaptation since Spiderman.
I can't think of any other recent film that could make this granite-faced 39 year old crack a grin at its moments of old-fashioned super-heroic "awesome!", such as when Captain America intervenes at the last moment to save a brave civilian from being vapourised, or simply watching a succession of childhood heroes duke it out with many a "THOOM!" and a "WHAM!"
Yes, this film taps into our need for larger than life heroes, while at the same time making them likable by allowing us to laugh at them: Captain America is super-strong, brave and handsome, but probably wouldn't know how to use a computer mouse. Thor, aka "PointBreak", wears his mother's drapes. The Hulk is a dangerously powerful toddler in torn shorts.
I even preferred Tony Stark in this one than his own films: somehow his wisecracking arrogance is much more impressive when it's at the expense of demi-gods and superhumans!
With the tactical prowess of Captain A., the director has managed to get each character to play an equal part in their own special way, while providing a lot of fun and interest in the way they interact, whether they're cooperating or otherwise.
When a film's heroes are near invincible it can be hard to induce a sense of jeopardy, but this film succeeds in doing that by providing an unexpected event which also lends a strong emotional core. We are also shown that our heroes can bleed: in 2 effective moments I remember there is a pause, we see that a hero is badly injured, but he carries on without complaint.
Such is the goodwill fostered by the film, I'm prepared to skim over the negatives. I'd have preferred the gathering of the team to be hastened on a bit, and I think one stunt pulled by the Black Widow seemed more believably suited to a super-powered being, which was unnecessary as her more "down to earth" abilities were already enough to prove that she was a valuable part of the team.
After we emerged from the cinema, we were all still pretty stunned from the intensity of the action. The verdict of my companions? The film rendered the life of my 15 year old nephew complete; his 11 year old brother thought it was "OK", and my 7 year old niece was inspired to switch her favourite character from Thor to The Hulk.