The big-screen adaptation of the cult 1960's British spy television show of the same name. John Steed (Fiennes) and Emma Peel (Thurman) are two super suave secret agents who must stop the demonical August DeWynter (Connery) from controlling the weather and holding the world to ransom. That's about it really.

Misunderstood masterpiece or pile of bollocks? Well somewhere in between actually. If ever there is a film that will send audiences to the opposite ends of the clappometer, then The Avengers is it. In fact I think it should be used by psychiatrists as some sort of perception test because it's amazing how many people simply don't understand it - and it seems to have nothing to do with intelligence or lack there of. It's stylish, humorous and bizarre entertainment for those who do "get" it, an incomprehensible bore to those who don't.

I feel that the filmmakers have actually done an admirable job of trying to mix the defining elements of the TV show with the demands of a modern day Hollywood action movie. However it doesn't quite work out, in fact I don't think it ever COULD have worked out. It's stylish and funny, but the film is ultimately too lightweight to make a large impact as a feature film. Its carefree approach is its own undoing.

The film gets its laughs - and it is often very funny - from playing off absurd situations, mostly to do with silly English behavior. Some of the "jokes" are delightfully subtle, such as one character suggesting upon entering a maze that the group "all split up and meet in the middle". Others are more obvious, such as the hilarious meeting of bad guys, catch is, they're all disguised in psychedelic teddy bear outfits. And gosh do they look cute.

Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman, as Steed the ultimate of English reserve and Peel the modern dame who likes to ruffle feathers, have been criticized for a supposed lack of chemistry. I really can't see why, because I thought they worked very well together. The two achieve a strange mix of managing to exaggerate their respective characters restraint, a sort of over-the-top understatement (if that is at all possible).

In the best traditions of (cliched) upper-class English behavior, Steed and Peel don't let the pressures of saving the world get in the way of observing proper "form". For the sake of keeping protocol they perform such farcical rituals as serving tea while driving along in the car. Heaven forbid that someone could actually do something as common as show emotion. The world of The Avengers is a place where "the smallest things are taken with the utmost seriousness, and the big things are not taken seriously at all." Their amusing dedication to maintaining etiquette at all times is exemplified in an early scene where Peel swaggers in to confront a naked Steed in the sauna. Of course, despite a lengthy conversation, he's much to "British" to admit any discomfort at the situation.

The other characters in the film have their entertaining moments too. Sean Connery parodies himself nicely as the blustering villain. Eddie Izzard struts about as Connery's mute henchman and Eileen Aitkens is delightfully off-kilter as a granny with a machine gun. Patrick Macnee (the original Steed) also turns up in a cameo as "Invisible Jones", just for the sake of it.

The production design is all top-notch stuff, from the cinematography by the brilliant Roger Pratt (Brazil, 12 Monkey's) to the stylish costumes and elaborate set designs. The film is certainly one of the best looking films of 1998.

The problem with The Avengers however is that ultimately it's a case of all style and no substance. The plot is given little relevance and there is almost no emotional weight to the characters. It doesn't leave you hanging off the edge of your seat to see what happens next, and when something does happen, the characters are so blase about it that it's hard to care yourself. Ultimately - and probably fittingly - The Avengers suffers the same fault as the TV series, an almost complete lack of substance. While the TV show managed to get away with this, it hamstrings a movie which faced people with expectations of something much more.

The Avengers is a film of many small delights, but added together they aren't quite enough to make a great film, and to anyone who misses or doesn't appreciate the small things, there is unlikely to be much enjoyment to be found at all. When a films appeal lies almost entirely on attracting a type of person with a particular sense of humour, it's not surprising that it proved so completely unsuccessful with so many. Still, it's uncommon for a big budget movie to arrive with such a bold and unique approach, and that's something I always appreciate.

Before this was released I was a bit concerned that it would turn out to be commercial pap and that Uma may become an over-hyped star. Well, I don't think anyone could accuse The Avengers of being commercial (although I'm sure Warner Brothers had hoped for that). It very much fits Uma's style to choose a film like this as a big budget venture, because it is so "bold and unique". I could never see her doing a Michael Bay film for instance.

I guess it turned out to be a bit of a disaster though and undoubtedly hurt her reputation. Which is of course completely unfair, but I guess those are the breaks. Batman and Robin got its fair share of criticism, but Uma herself got a lot of praise. With The Avengers she had to face the criticism along with everyone else (I think Uma is actually better here than in Batman and Robin). Thankfully it seems however that not much lasting damage was done.

I think Uma is just perfect in the film. She easily stacks up alongside Diana Rigg's Emma Peel (I always preferred Honor Blackman's Cathy Gale anyway). I mean, it's not a hard role, all she has to do is prance about in flattering outfits, deliver arch dialogue and occasionally get herself into a bit of action. Not difficult stuff and Uma handles it easily. The criticism never made sense to me, all these critics that usually praise her so much, all of a sudden didn't like her? The acting in The Avengers isn't Uma's best, no doubt, but it's as professional and top class as you would expect from her, which leaves me thinking that most of the criticism was extremely hollow, or just flat out lies. I'm sick of reading reviews along the lines of "I love Fiennes, Thurman and Connery, but they're terrible in this film", because it's just total rubbish.

Despite how hard the media furore was to take at the time, I'm certainly glad Uma did The Avengers. I hope she continues to take risks like this and try new challenges. It doesn't always pay off, but in the long run it makes her a much more interesting actress.