Marvel's The Avengers Review - 3 Stars

After a string of successful super movies including ‘Iron Man” “Captain America” and “Thor”, Marvel comics combines these characters plus several others for a gigantic blow out “The Avengers.”  Fans of one or all of these films will have fun watching the gang assemble to defeat the usual comic book villain—in this case Loki—Thor’s jealous brother who decides to start a world ending war on earth.  “The Avengers” employs great actors including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and they reboot ‘The Incredible Hulk” with the excellent Mark Ruffalo (maybe you remember the last two “Hulk” attempts that didn’t quite catch fire.)   Scarlett Johansson adds sizzle to the character “Black Widow”—she evidentially has quite a past, and begins this movie breaking loose from ropes binding her to a chair by busting the chair and the guys holding her.  The story starts a little slow as they reintroduce all of these major characters as well as Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Renner.  That accomplished, the super heroes fight each other which I think gives the filmmakers an excuse to push the special effects envelop, and then build to the giant showdown—an insane finale crammed with action.  “The Avengers” could care less about grown ups—they want action fans attention—and they get it.   Does it deliver what it promises?  Action.  Is it entertaining?  For fans.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Summer movie kick off.