6. The Party Scene (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Superhero films, especially the giant team-up ones, are synonymous with big action spectacle. 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, an underrated gem of a film, has plenty of that.
However where it really succeeds is the party scene that sees each core member attempt to lift Thor’s hammer.
It’s a scene that only works with the build-up these characters have over multiple movies. We care about them and share their emotions. So when we see the characters laughing and joking at a party, we can’t help but feel like a silent guest.
Joss Whedon’s in his element here. His dialogue crackles with wit and the banter never stops flying. Every character gets some sort of moment and each one feels completely authentic to how we’ve come to know them.
Brian Tyler’s jazzy percussion-heavy score compliments the jovial tone, and the cast really do feel like genuine best friends by this point.
The scene also unexpectedly acts as a set-up to the pay-off we don’t know we need; the “Chekhov’s Hammer” that culminates in Vision lifting it at the end of the second act.
In a genre that’s never too far from CGI-overload, Age of Ultron’s party scene is a welcome breath of fresh air and a perfectly executed display of friendship.
