Marvel's The Avengers Family Movie Review

movie review rating guide for parents and families

MPAA Rating
PG-13

for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference

Genre
Science Fiction Fantasy, Action and Adventure

Director
Joss Whedon

Starring
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo

Studio
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Release Date/In Theaters
5/4/2012

Marvel's The Avengers Movie Summary

The ultimate superhero movie. Marvel's The Avengers features the superhero team of Captain America, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow, Thor and Hawkeye. The Director of International Peacekeeping Agency (S.H.I.E.L.D.), Nick Fury, needs a team to help save the world from an enemy who threatens global safety.

Marvel's The Avengers Movie Review for Parents

-by Ginger

      Marvel Comics is back on the big screen once again with the ultimate fight between good and evil. Nick Fury, the director of an international peace keeping agency called S.H.I.E.L.D., must assemble his team of Marvel heroes to save the world from the evil Loki and his gang of miscreants. Marvel’s the Avengers movie brings together Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, the Black Widow, Captain America to save the human race from its destruction. This movie is a fooler. Any parent would think that since it is Marvel Comics, it is suitable for all ages, but this Parental Guide to the movies has the real scoop…and it might surprise you.

      The Marvel’s Avengers movie was rated PG-13 for intense violence and action throughout. This is nothing more than expected when it comes to Marvel Comics. You can’t save the world without a fair share of violence and action. After all, it is an action flick, but this action flick takes it a little too far for a kid’s movie in some cases.

      Here is a rundown of some of the worst scenes in Marvel’s the Avengers movie:
- There are several skin tight suits and low cut tops with cleavage. What is the message this sends to the intended Pre-teen audience?
- Of course, there is lots of violence. For the most part, it shows blood, with the suggestion of violence. I guess that makes it “technically” nonviolent. There are definitely enough clues to get the idea of what happened though.
- A man comments that he tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the mouth but failed.
- There are several anatomical terms named a little too explicitly for a PG-13, 7 instances of obscenities, and numerous insults. I lost count after 7 obscenities. This is supposed to be a kid’s movie.
- There are plenty of scenes of drinking, particularly champagne throughout the movie.
- One man makes a reference to using a “big bag of weed” to help him relax.

      This is only the short list of content that may be considered inappropriate for your family. Marvel’s the Avengers was intended for a young audience, yet contains more explicit material than many similar action flicks intended for adult audiences. Throughout the entire Avengers movie, I found myself asking whether Marvel really needed to showcase all of the above to sell movie tickets nowadays.

      There are movies where such content adds to the intensity of the plot. This was not the case with the Avenger’s movie. Instead it came across as rude and obnoxious humor. Marvel heroes were originally intended to be heroic role models. This family movie review thinks there is little heroism in this movie. This one was not up to the standards that one has come to expect from Marvel for younger children.