Review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ is a fun, emotional adventure

Posted on May 8, 2015

By MARK VIOLA

Eleven movies into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), perhaps the biggest surprise is just how strong the series is after 11 movies. And with another 11 movies already in the pipeline between now and 2019, there is no end in sight, and if the forthcoming movies are half as good as the latest installment, “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” I have no problem with that.

Already boasting the second highest grossing opening weekend in history–the first “Avengers” film is number one–this new film is the culmination of the past 10 movies and manages to do three things very, very well: build on the foundation set by the previous films, develop and tell its own story, and lay the groundwork for the movies to come.

Managing to pack tons of explosive action, compelling character development and just the right amount of humor, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is one of those rare films after which I left the theater with no complaints. Of course, I might have a quibble here or there, but even that was only after trying to find them to balance out this review.

To be sure, this is a very dense movie, with a lot of story to tell in its 141 minutes. It is actually two minutes shorter than the first “Avengers” film, but feels longer, and in a good way. By now there is a lot of background already established in the previous 10 movies, not to mention the “Agents of SHIELD” television series, and there is little hand holding, so if you’re not at least vaguely familiar with the over-arching storylines of the MCU, you’re probably going to find yourself lost at times. Additionally, with the team already established, there is no need for another origin story, and the action kicks off in the opening seconds and rarely slows down for the next two hours.

With so many characters and so many storylines, this could have collapsed like so many other comic movies which tried to do too much, but director Joss Whedon, who managed to balance everything the first time around in “The Avengers,” does so again. Combined with his patented witty dialogue–he also wrote the screenplay–the film features great popcorn action and strong storytelling and will assuredly be near the top of my favorite films of 2015.

The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action, violence and destruction, and for some suggestive comments.

(This is a shortened version of the full review available in our printed or e-edition papers.)

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