Captain America: The First Avenger

2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, directed by Joe Johnston.

Starring Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci, Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Neal McDonough, Richard Armitage, and Samuel Jackson.

What is it about?

Set during WWII, a small branch of the Nazi’s (called Hydra), are lead by the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving). They specialize in technology, and could dominate the world with their Tessaract energy cube. In response, the U.S. military (Tommy Lee Jones and Hayley Atwell), with the aid of an inventor named Howard Stark (Dominc Cooper), work towards creating a super soldier to win the war. Low on the list of applicants but high in character, is pint sized New Yorker Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Like his best friend, Bucky (Sebastian Stan), Rogers dreams of going to war to fight for his country, but is turned down because of his health defects and lack of physical stature. With some advocacy by a scientist (Stanley Tucci), Rogers auditions and is successful at being experimented on. Possessing super powers, he fights for the U.S. to end fascism at the hands of Hydra, and remove them of possession of the Tesseract cube. Will Rogers be successful?

Why is it worth seeing?

Captain America: The First Avenger is the fifth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)’s Phase 1 stage of Marvel’s grand experiment. This is the origin story of the Captain America character, as played by a well cast Chris Evans. Director Joe Johnston does a commendable job of mixing nostalgia for the era during the last world war of the 20^th century with fleet footed comic book action that can be deadly serious- but never takes itself too seriously.

One of the treats of origin stories is watching the little hints of self actualization. We see it in an alley fight, when the tiny Rogers is getting beat up. He reflexively reaches for a garbage can lid to use as a shield, but is ineffective. As the movie progresses, we see him wielding a shield made out of the practically indestructible metal, vibranium, with purpose. Cap has to learn how to walk before he can run (and Marvel needs to never use a Wilhelm Scream ever again).

There’s no great superhero movie without a great villain. Here, Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull isn’t great, but he’s close. Full of negs that barely sound like the psychological warfare they’re intended to be, and unafraid to disintegrate people, we don’t know where he comes from other than madness and a lust for power. His raw energy and intensity (but not accent) make him an ideal Jungian figure of lustful greed, and an identifiable villain. Contrasting that, is Evan’s portrayal of the almost goofily patriotic Captain. It’s a character who belongs in that generation- and not necessarily this one.

Evan’s athletic physicality and Johnston’s direction make for well choreographed actions scenes, and the 2 of them are underrated at such. Yet, amongst all the punching, kicking, bullets, bombs, and disintegrating lasers (that sound lazily like Iron Man’s lasers), there’s an element of campy fun here that reinforces: it’s just a comic book movie, and war isn’t hell- it’s fun.

With only 1 more movie remaining in Phase 1 of the MCU, Captain America: The First Avenger is a good way to finish off introducing the core elements of the Avengers. While not possessing the flashy narcissism of Tony Stark in Iron Man, the rage issues of The Incredible Hulk, or the lightning hammer of Thor, Cap is a leader who inspires devotion and would be fascinating to watch if he had to grapple with present day realities versus the era he grew up in. But that comes later.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.