This is a better than average superhero movie. Although this reviewer is tired of superhero movies this one is more enjoyable than most because it’s better made, the actors are really into it and, very unusual for a superhero movie, it has a sense of humour. The audience was laughing out loud on several occasions.

The plot isn’t all that important. Our villain (Tom Hiddleston), a superhero from another world, wants to take over the earth and can only be stopped by an all-star group of superheroes banding together to do battle with him.

So, under the direction of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), our band of heroes comes together. There’s Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). They all get to do their thing and even cooperate to save humanity despite various rivalries and differences between them. Downey sets the acting bar high and the rest more or less get there too.

While there are no real plot surprises; there is lots of action, battles, destruction and some dazzling special effects. Director and co-writer Joss Whedon deserves praise for moving it along so well (and injecting the welcome funny bits). It’s still too long, but the box office is boffo and Marvel Comics superhero fans are ecstatic and raving about it. However, if you are not a superhero fan this might seem like more of the same.

Rating: four deer out of five

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Alf Cryderman is a Red Deer freelance writer and old movie buff.