The Avengers: Together at last

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Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) join forces in Marvel: The Avengers, opening in theaters on May 4. (CNS)

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Shaun Majumder in Every Word is Absolutely True. (CNS ABC)

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Carrie Underwood performs at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. (CP)

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," but these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what's on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big release: The Avengers (May 4)

Big picture: The world's mightiest superheroes unite to battle an evil force bent on enslaving our planet. . . . No, not the sudden plague of British boy bands (though I'd pay good money to see The Hulk "smash" either One Direction or The Wanted). The big threat is the evil Norse god Loki and his many minions, but it hardly matters. The important thing is that The Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Co., are together at last. Think of their previous solo films as little more than advertising for this Lycra-laden, big-budget extravaganza.

Forecast: Finding balance in a film featuring multiple superheroes and multiple movie-star egos is truly a heroic feat. If one person is up to the task, it's writer/director Joss Whedon -- a man who took pulp material and imbued it with vivid humanity and humour in his TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly. With a cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, there's something for everyone in The Avengers. Beyond explosive action, expect explosive dialogue in the form of Whedon-esque quips and one-liners (and for the best lines to go to Downey Jr.).

TV

Big event: Shaun Majumder, Every Word Is Absolutely True (April 30; HBO, 8:30 p.m.)

Big picture: This one-hour special offers two things: A classic road trip and a traditional documentary on one of Canada's most popular comedians. A camera crew follows Shaun Majumder on his first coast-to-coast standup tour, from St. John's to Victoria. You can watch Majumder try and tickle Canada's regional funny bones, but you'll also find revealing glimpses into the comic's personal life through interviews and archival footage.

Forecast: An original Canadian production, this doc shines a light on Majumder -- from his humble childhood in Newfoundland and his start at Toronto's Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club, to his successful TV career in shows such as 24 and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Majumder may follow in a long line of Canadian comedians, but his personal story -- including the racism he's faced, both personally and professionally -- makes for a unique tale.

Honourable mention: Magic in Motion, Earth From Space (May 6, Discovery Channel, 7 p.m.): An original Canada/U.K. co-production, this two-hour special offers a unique view from above by employing the latest satellite data, CGI technology, NASA intelligence and on-location filming. Highlights include viewing the inside of a hurricane, navigating the Yukon's ice lakes, and exploring how the Amazon produces water for us all. The show promises to uncover "the Earth's deepest mysteries." (I'm hoping we learn where the island from Lost is, and how it works. Maybe NASA's pointy heads can finally explain what the hell actually happened on that series.)

MUSIC

Big release on Tuesday: Carrie Underwood (Blown Away), Norah Jones (Little Broken Hearts)

Big picture: America's reigning country queen is back with an all-new album, tailor-made for heavy rotation on radio and Country Music Television. A mixture of ballads and uptempo, pop-country hybrids, the song titles alone tell you what to expect: Two Black Cadillacs, Thank God for Hometowns, Cupid's Got a Shotgun, Wine After Whiskey and Good Girl. Meanwhile, pop-jazz chanteuse Norah Jones releases her most interesting and challenging solo album to date. Jones has truly evolved since her easy-listening breakthrough album, 2002's Come Away with Me. Experimenting with the likes of Jack White and Danger Mouse on last year's collaborative album, Rome, or getting all rootsy in the band The Little Willies, seem to have rubbed off on her.

Forecast: Underwood may win on the charts and at pending country awards shows, but Jones is the one to watch. Little Broken Hearts is the sign of an artist reaching the top of her game. The accessible, singer-songwriter craftsmanship is still there, but this Norah feels more soulful, slightly edgier, and certainly less averse to taking risks. (Norah, our hearts are free for the breaking.)

Honourable mention: Marilyn Manson (Born Villain). Is it only me, or would Marilyn Manson make a good supervillain for The Avengers 2?

-- Postmedia News

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 29, 2012 A9