I'm wondering if that's part of why the critics are loving it as much as they are. Because of the change of pace from superhero flicks that dominated the BO the last 3-4 summers.
Yes I think so. I think they're fatigued with all the CGI derpy super hero and giant robot PG-13 kiddie movies that have dominated summer blockbusters for the last 5 years or so.
Before I saw the film I kinda did a little action binge, On Friday I watched Hard Boiled and Aliens, on Saturday I watched Die Hard and the Matrix. Then I saw Fury Road, so I had a gauge to judge it against what I consider the titans of the action film genre and...... Well, it doesn't hold up to those. It's good. But not great.
It's being overhyped by critics because of what you said.
CGI super hero fatigue.