Today’s quick review: The Avengers. John Steed (Ralph Fiennes) and Emma Peel (Uma Thurman) are a pair of British secret agents tasked with investigating a series of meteorological anomalies plaguing the United Kingdom. Their investigation leads them to Sir August de Wynter (Sean Connery), a wealthy man who plans to hold London ransom with his weather machine.
The Avengers is a psychedelic spy film adapted from the 60s TV show of the same name. Featuring a thematic supervillain, a few surreal moments, and a great cast, The Avengers is a spy film that tries to put its own spin on the classic genre. Unfortunately, the execution leaves something to be desired, with a difficult plot, odd internal logic, and poor writing.
The premise of The Avengers is a conventional spy universe turned on its head. The framework is typical for the genre: British spies, diabolical supervillains, peril, and quips. But the trappings are subversive, from flying security drones to unexplained evil doppelgangers. This formula should produce a stylish take on the spy genre, but weak writing and tone issues let the movie down.
The film is too subversive for its own good. It occasionally throws logic out the window alongside convention. The Avengers also never quite decides whether it wants to be a parody of the genre or an unusual but serious entry into it. The film’s straight-faced tone keeps it from being an effective parody, while the film’s absurdity keeps it from being a serious spy film.
John Steed and Emma Peel both epitomize the unflappable spy archetype. Their relationship is a constant competition to stay as stoic as possible while coming up with the driest one-liner. Without a member of the duo to crack a smile once in a while, their exchanges hang in the air unresolved, sandbagging a number of fun jokes. Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman are both great fits for their characters, making their mishandling even more disappointing.
For his part, Sean Connery delivers a ridiculous, over-the-top performance as Lord de Wynter. The character is a Bond villain through and through, from his meaningful name to his megalomaniacal ambitions. Connery delivers weather-themed quips with all the gravity one could hope, and his performance is rendered all the more surreal by the eccentric conventions of The Avengers’ spy universe.
Watch The Avengers if you are looking for a peculiar take on the spy genre that lacks the quality to make use of its great cast and stylish premise. Skip it if you are looking for a better entry into the genre.
3.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 4.0 for quality and a 6.0 for perverse entertainment value.