The biggest success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been that it doesn’t feel unwieldy. Despite being 11 films deep, Marvel has managed to create a series of films that are connected yet still retain their own individuality. But after seeing Avengers: Age of Ultron, I wonder how much longer that individuality can last.
There are countless plot threads in Age of Ultron, but the main plot involves Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) accidentally creating an evil robot called Ultron (James Spader), who predictably sets out to destroy the world. The Avengers, equally predictably, are the only ones who can stop him.
Age of Ultron is an enjoyable movie but only on surface level. There are some funny jokes and cool action moments but, as a whole, it doesn’t come together. Usually, the characters are the best part of the Marvel films, but not in this case. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner are both going through the same character arcs they went through in the first Avengers film outing. Captain America (Chris Evans) is reduced to a running gag that got old in the first 10 minutes, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) is stuck in an unconvincing romance, and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) basically exists to remind the audience of tantalizing Marvel films we won’t see for three years.
The only Avenger who gets a decent storyline is Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), but even that feels more like addressing an actor’s grievances rather than anything pertinent to the plot.
The most compelling characters are the new ones: Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany). They have very different functions in the plot, but each felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the established cast.
Age of Ultron also stumbles on its titular character. Marvel has yet to create a convincing villain, and Ultron is no exception. Spader does an admirable job, but Ultron fails to be anything more than Tony Stark with a chrome paint job.
But Age of Ultron’s failure isn’t just in its dearth of engaging characters. It simply doesn’t work as a singular film. So many elements seemed to be included solely to set up future films. They cast Andy Serkis as a major comic-book villain and have a fight sequence in Wakanda not because it’s necessary, but because they’re setting up the Black Panther film. Thor doesn’t go on a vision quest as the logical conclusion to his part of the film’s story line, but because Marvel wants to tease Thor: Ragnarok, due sometime early in the administration of the as-yet-unelected next U.S. president. Even the thrilling ending was only as thrilling at it was because of what it promises for future Avengers films.
This makes Age of Ultron feel inconsequential, and it makes me worried that future Marvel films will be teasers of teasers instead of the distinct, winning films they once were.
