Why would the guy who wrote Toy Story be a good director for The Avengers? Because Joss Whedon knows who to write an ensemble cast into a story wrought with great characters and their development and turn the whole group into a dysfunctional human family that struggles with the same things we all do. He also did a brilliant job of this in the series Firefly, which was a short-lived and amazing show. Whedon's scripting and directing of The Avengers is wondrous in its near perfect blend of humor, drama and fast-paced super-hero action. This is a guy who understands how a comic can come to life in a live action movie. He had a vision and it was clearly a brilliant one that has earned the Avengers the top opening weekend of all time with $200 million smashing Harry's record from last year of $169 million.
I am not sure where Joss Whedon stands spiritually but when Loki falls to Earth to take over, self-deluded into thinking he can be a god and rule mankind, it sure reminds me of someone else who thinks he is all that. When the good Captain is warned by the Black Widow that these guys are not to be taken lightly because they are gods, Cap replies, "There's only one God, ma'am, and I'm pretty sure He doesn't dress like that." When Loki uses the Black Widow's past against her and tells her her ledger is dripping with red, it reminded me of how the accuser will try to get at us by bringing up a past that is forgiven. And when the villain tries to make the Hulk hesitate in his attack by the typical bad guy mental manipulation and Loki gets rag-dolled by the not-so-jolly green giant, Hulk sarcastically comments, "Puny god!"
The characters are given a past ,and in the case of Captain America who saw many of his friends like his best bud Bucky die in the line of duty, Cap is able to help Iron Man deal with the death of a friend and move on in spite of overwhelming odds.
The story is understandable, fast-paced and ILM's effects are amazing. Mix this with Alan Sylvestri's musical score (he also brilliantly scored Captain America) and you get a recipe for Wow! The movie was so well done that I found myself smiling much of the time and wanting to get in line to see it again as soon as it was finished - something that doesn't happen too often these days.
This movie is going to make a lot of cash and will ensure that the Marvel franchise of the Avengers and its individual heroes' movie careers continue for a good while. DC Comics has been able to put out Batman, Superman and Green Lantern movies, some good and some not so super, and I wonder to myself if they shouldn't get old Whedon to be at the helm of their efforts to get a Justice League movie off the ground. Joss Whedon just gets it. I am looking forward to seeing Captain America 2 and Iron Man 3 next year.
As ol' Stan Lee, who made one of his awesome cameos in Avengers, would say
'Nuff Said.
