NOTE: A revised version of this article has been published.
1. Will I like it?
Yes! I'm pretty sure I had a grin on my face the whole 2 hours and 20 minutes. It's got a great story and lots of character development, it's got laugh-out-loud moments liberally scattered throughout, and the last act has some of the best action sequences that have ever been put on film. That may sound like hyperbole, or exaggeration, but I assure you it's not. This is not just a good superhero movie; it's a good movie, period.
2. Will my kids like it?
If they're old enough to see it, then they absolutely will. It certainly helps to have a grounding in the Marvel comics that preceded it, but it's definitely not necessary. There are enough jokes that kids will get, and enough awesome action, that I can't imagine any kid not being captivated by the film. The only drawback to the film, really, is the length – as I said, it's 2 hours and 20 minutes long, which can be a bit much for some children. The first act does go on a bit longer than I thought was strictly necessary, but not so much that it's likely to bore most kids.
3. Do I need to have seen all the previous Marvel movies to understand what's going on?
I have seen them all, so I can't be completely certain, but I think you'd do OK even if you haven't. There are some quick flashbacks and some expository dialogue about what's happened in the other films – enough to bring you up to speed pretty well, I think. Obviously it's better if you've seen them, though, so if you or your kids haven't yet, I highly recommend filling in the gaps between now and Friday. I would say that, in descending order of usefulness, you should see: Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man 2, Iron Man, and The Incredible Hulk.
4. When's the best time for a restroom break?
The problem is that most of the slower bits of the movie come in the first act, so by the time most kids would need to use the restroom, there really isn't any good time to take one. I'd just try to time it when a new action scene is starting, because you can probably figure out what you missed pretty quickly after you return. Without spoiling anything, it's hard for me to give too much advice in this regard, but I will suggest you not take a break during the time Loki is aboard the Helicarrier.
5. Is it worth paying more for 3-D? How about IMAX?
It is absolutely not worth paying more for 3-D. The 3-D was barely noticeable in some scenes, and where it was noticeable it added nothing. There was only one memorable stuff-coming-out-of-the-screen-at-you effect, and that was just a pistol – I have no idea why they never had any of Hawkeye's arrows coming out at the audience, because that just seemed obvious. Yes, if you can find a theater showing it in 2-D, see it that way – use the money you save on tickets to buy a drink (though probably only a small one, the way concession prices are these days).
I didn't see it in IMAX, so I can't speak directly to whether it's worth it or not. But I will say that, given how visually intense the film is, and how many great action scenes there are, I would think that seeing it in IMAX would improve the viewing experience to some degree.
6. Do I need to sit through the end credits for a bonus scene at the end?
Of course – it's a Marvel movie! There's a scene at the end of the credits that sets up the next movie, which in this case is Iron Man 3.
7. So, how did Joss Whedon do?
Even better than I expected, and I expected a lot. He managed to craft a threat that makes it entirely reasonable that SHIELD would need to call on that many superheroes at once. He managed to make a movie with five stars (if you include Samuel L. Jackson, which I do) and central characters, and not only gave each of them several really excellent scenes and real development, but also managed to give the secondary characters some seriously good screen time. All of the characters – even Thor – get to show their humorous side. The story holds together from start to finish, and never feels contrived – a really difficult feat to pull off in a superhero film.
In short, it's got an ensemble cast that works well together, has some great dialogue that's at turns humorous and insightful, and that leaves you wanting more. Which is exactly what Joss Whedon does when he's at his best, and he not only brought his "A" game to The Avengers but stepped it up a notch. Mark my words: after this, Whedon will have more offers to direct major movies than he will ever be able to accept.
8. What about Mark Ruffalo? He's untested!
Again, this is going to sound like hyperbole, but isn't: Mark Ruffalo is the best Bruce Banner ever. I had my doubts about him, too, but he completely dispelled them: He plays Banner as a brilliant, kind of dweeby scientist who hates being the center of attention but is all too aware of the fact that his situation means he ends up being the center of attention anyway. The costumer evidently put him in clothes bought off the rack, and it shows, especially in contrast to the the other characters.
Refreshingly, the Hulk is also an actual character in the film, not just a giant green CGI monster. He has lines, including some funny ones, and they all totally work. And the effects artists do actually make the Hulk resemble Ruffalo, which makes the whole thing more believable.
9. What about the heroes' love interests? Do they get any mention or screen time?
Without revealing too much, I will say that one of the main heroes' love interests appears in one (excellent) scene, and one of the others appears only as a photograph. And that's it, though of course it wouldn't make much sense for Peggy Carter from Captain America to appear, as she'd be 90-plus years old by now.
10. Will I want to see it again?
Heck, yes! I saw it almost three weeks ago, and I can't wait to see it again, and to share it with my kids. It's the best superhero film ever made, and again, that's not hyperbole.
The Avengers opens in theaters everywhere in the U.S. this Friday, May 4. It's rated PG-13 "for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference." Really, if your kid(s) can handle the previous Marvel films, they'll have no problem at all with this one.
Note: You can find my second review of The Avengers – including some spoilers – right here!
