A Marvel movie that's marvelous for kids, but a bit tame for the rest.
Released: 2008
Genre(s): Animation, Action, Family
Marvel Animation has been a consistent contributor to the greater Marvel multiverse for years, creating diverse and impressive reimaginings of canon favorites, and adding entertaining, new characters to the already eclectic mix. "Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow" does a spectacular job of making its young protagonists feel like natural fits in the already established mythos surrounding them, while also keeping everything family-friendly and fairly lighthearted - in fact, this is Marvel's first PG-rated animated film, and it definitely has a certain cutesy, Saturday morning cartoon appeal. The animation isn't groundbreaking - think an imitation of Cartoon Network's "Ben 10" - but is appropriate for a direct-to-video feature, coming off not quite as smooth as a major Disney caper, but not utilizing the clunkiest or clumsiest of presentations either. This "Teen Titans"-style treatment unfortunately can have a harsh polarizing effect among viewers: while the jaunty antics and adventures of the new superhero team are wonderful for kids, neither being too violent or complicated in nature, this approach may alienate those older fans more familiar with Marvel's darker thematic elements. While far inferior to the parade of live-action blockbusters that have marched through theaters over the past few years, "Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow" is a fresh, fun take on one of the most famous superhero teams of all time, promising to delight younger audiences and not put older ones to sleep. Plan to pick it up for an entertaining family movie night.
Rating (out of 5): 3
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