The Avengers
Lackluster spy spin-off has sexism, some violence, language.
The Avengers
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Avengers is an action-adventure movie based on the popular '60s TV spy show, and features peril, mild violence, and constant innuendo. An all star-cast finds British agents John Steed (Ralph Fiennes) and Dr. Emma Peel (Uma Thurman) teaming up to stop evil genius Sir August de Wynter (Sean Connery). The violence includes punching, shooting, and sword fights. A female character is also drugged with the intention for sexual assault implied -- although the attack doesn't materialize. A mainstay of the original TV show, the constant innuendo and sexism feels outdated with the "jokes" failing to land. The language is infrequent, but there is use of "arse" and "bastard," and one use of "f--k." Characters drink alcohol -- but no drunkenness is depicted -- and cigarettes are smoked on occasion. The plot is muddled and difficult to follow, and the action and banter fails to capture the fun of the original, which could lead to viewers -- particular a younger audience -- losing interest.
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Lackluster Renner finale has tons of action violence, language
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What's the Story?
In THE AVENGERS, British agents John Steed (Ralph Fiennes) and Dr. Emma Peel (Uma Thurman) team up to stop evil genius Sir August de Wynter (Sean Connery). The duo are tasked with preventing de Wynter from using a weather-harnessing machine as a weapon against governments around the world. But things get tricky when Peel is implicated in an in-house sabotage, leading the pair on a mission to uncover the truth behind the real culprit and how it ties into de Wynter's villainous plan.
Is It Any Good?
The pieces of the puzzle are all in place, yet none of them work in this 1998 spin-off of the hugely popular 1960s TV series. The cast of The Avengers is impressive, but never seem to settle into their roles. The screenplay is full of innuendo, yet it's killed by the lack of chemistry. The runtime is relatively short, but nowhere near short enough. There's no energy or momentum, yet the plot unfolds laboriously regardless. The only saving grace is the aesthetic, which goes some way to capturing the flair of the original, with stylish set pieces injecting at least some traditional action spirit into proceedings.
For those who haven't seen the classic '60s series, this movie just about holds together as light entertainment. But most people will recognize it for a lazy, misguided Hollywood punt at making a few dollars out of a great British institution -- and falling woefully short.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way in which gender is represented in The Avengers. Did you find the movie sexist? The film uses the same tone as it did in the 1960s TV version. How, and in what ways, has what was deemed acceptable then changed today?
Discuss the ways in which stereotypes are used in the movie. Why is it important to identify and see through stereotypes? Tips for battling stereotypes.
Discuss the movie's violence. Was it all necessary to the story, or did any of it seem excessive? Would its impact have been different if the movie's tone had been more serious?
What are some other spin-offs or remakes that have been successful? What did you think made them so?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 14, 1998
- On DVD or streaming: December 29, 1998
- Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman, Sean Connery
- Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
- Studios: Warner Bros., Warner Home Video
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures
- Run time: 89 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: brief strong language
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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