Yes, The Avengers can be a dizzying, frenetic maelstrom of quick cuts and superhero-y one-upmanship, but the movie never stops being fun. The elaborate action set-pieces that the comic book nerds will be deconstructing all summer long don’t seem bloated or disconnected from the rest of the film. And the characters are interesting, troubled people who bicker and argue like a dysfunctional team of co-workers. Perhaps The Avengers is best viewed as a modern workplace dramedy, except that the office drones have been replaced with demi-gods, mutants, and assassins. But it’s the subversively funny moments that give The Avengers its broad appeal. I’m still chuckling over a certain scene containing a perfectly timed sucker punch.
The fact that Joss Whedon’s name is now associated with astronomical box office numbers can only be a good thing for the future of pop culture. It’s probably unreasonable to expect Disney to bankroll a Serenity sequel, but a geek can dream.
