As I sit here typing this, I’m looking at the 70s version of Captain America starring Reb Brown. It’s reminding me how through the years, for whatever reason, it’s been difficult to adapt a good version of this character in a live format with his source material intact. Although in recent years, Marvel entertainment has seen decent quality films based on their characters released into theaters, many fans have felt some trepidation at the prospect of Cap coming to the big screen because of the previous versions. So the big question is: does this film conquer the fears of fanboys (as well as general moviegoers) and deliver to them a good product?
Thanks to the talents of Joe Johnston, Chris Evans, and many others involved, I have to say a resounding “yes.” Captain America: The First Avenger is a good, fun film I’d recommend to anybody.
The story starts in Norway during WW2, where a small village is about to be overrun by German forces, led by an imposing officer (Hugo Weaving) with a strange insignia on his uniform. He searches the place and finds his objective: a glowing box-shaped artifact that seems to possess immense power. The officer orders the village destroyed as he walks off.
Meanwhile, in New York, a small skinny kid (Chris Evans) is trying to enlist in the armed forces so he can help defeat the Nazi war machine explained in all the propaganda around him. However, the examining doctor takes one look at this kid, sees a list of health issues within him and immediately declares him 4F. It turns out this is the 5th time the kid named Steve has tried to sign on, but his heart is filled with The American Dream and he won’t be denied. He’s been bullied upon a lot but won’t stay down, a fact which endears him to his best friend James “Bucky” Barnes. Bucky has enlisted and wants one last night to go to some big event with Steve and a couple ladies to help keep them company. The event is entertaining to just about everyone, except Steve who notices a new recruiting station he hasn’t tried yet. As looks around the place, a quiet older man named Dr. Erskine (Stanley Tucci) takes notice of Steve’s general demeanor and decides to intervene in Steve’s latest attempt…
Soon, at a local army base, Steve begins his basic training and stands out among the candidates… for all the wrong reasons. The base commander Colonel Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) insists the old man is making a mistake and that a lot is on the line for their secret project, and the drill instructor Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) is also skeptical, but Erskine is just as stubborn about Steve continuing. Over the course of training, Steve demonstrates other attributes which prove him perfect for Eskine’s plans, and soon is transferred to a seemingly innocuous shop in New York City, where Erskine lays out everything to him.
If you’ve been a fan of comics or have seen TV promos / trailers, for this film (or have any instincts from reading the synopsis so far), you know Steve eventually becomes the super soldier Captain America, but the road to becoming this legend is not one he expects, or enjoys particularly. It takes Steve quite a bit to get into the war, and we are spectators to a good chunk of it. This is both a strength and weakness of the film (which I’ll address momentarily). So much is shown in Steve’s development as well as the American mindset during WW2, particularly the visuals. So first I’m going to give props to director Joe Johnston on capturing so many elements of this time and moving through them smoothly. He’d cut his period piece teeth directing the film adaptation of The Rocketeer, a comic with many elements similar to Captain America. Johnston also worked in the George Lucas and Steven Speilberg camps and brings competent energy to the action sequences, designed to emulate Raiders of the Lost Ark to some degree. His camerawork is also great for some of the grander mountain and aerial shots capturing the landscapes as well as the characters’ place in them. Also, he’s got a decent grasp for 3-D and doesn’t let that element overwhelm the movie.
Continuing with the visuals, special mention must be given to two departments. First, the visual effects team which made Chris Evans look like a 90 pound weakling. Very much as convincing as The Lord of the Rings and The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons in terms of altering an actor so completely. Second, major props to the art direction team (consisting of 9 people, so I won’t list them all here, but hey, there’s always imdb) which brought so many nuances of the 40s and respected the comic legacy that Captain America represented over the years, as well as visual cues meant to tie this film to The Avengers when it’s released. If you’ve been watching the previous films such as Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Thor, you’ll be rewarded here as many things start to come together.
This leads me to the screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. These guys did a wonderful job taking up elements of Cap’s origins created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. There are decades in the history of this character and you can tell these guys had fun picking from it, even incorporating elements of the popular current comic run by Ed Brubaker as well as The Ultimates version by Mark Millar. There are people who say that if a character is a really good moral man like Cap or Superman, or similar mindset, that he’s boring and impossible to write stories for. These guys managed to embrace Steve’s patriotic resolve and build a lot for him to deal with. How did he get this mindset, and how does he deal with everything thrown at him? Also, why this villain known as the Red Skull such a nasty S.O.B. to deal with? (Oh, for the nitpickers out there who’ve been complaining before seeing the movie, the organization Red Skull leads is a sub-division for Hitler’s Nazi regime, so even if you don’t see him wearing a swastika 100% of the time, he’s still a Nazi with the mania required to attempt world conquest. Deal with the change and get over it.)
Speaking of the Red Skull, Hugo Weaving is absolutely perfect portraying this megalomaniac. Nothing will stop his destructive plans for America and humanity in general. Yes we’ve seen him villainous before in The Matrix trilogy, but here, he brings powerful screen presence to an evil that others have failed in attempting. It’s a genuine sight to behold, and not just for the make-up work. The rest of the supporting cast does equally solid work and no one slacks in their performances. I’d not heard of most of the people here besides Tommy Lee Jones and Stanley Tucci, but man I enjoyed everyone on the screen.
This brings me to one element that anchors the film. If you have a terrible actor as a poor lead character, not much else is going to go right. Marvel pursued Chris Evans to play Steve and he initially refused because he was scared he didn’t what it would take to pull off the character. As you may surmise from my reaction to so much of this film, I’d say he pulled it off handily. Most think only of him as the Johnny Storm / The Human Torch in the recent Fantastic Four movies (of which he and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm / The Thing were about the only folks worth watching). However if you see his work in Sunshine, you might realize his ability to do Captain America justice shouldn’t really be a surprise. Evans shows genuine range as Steve and generates great chemistry with everyone around him. Although you do see him kicking butt and slinging the shield, his best moments come when playing off Tucci and Atwell in particular, with who he demonstrates excellent on-screen chemistry. Evans actively wanted to leave the wisecracks behind with the Johnny Storm character (in fact, it’s Jones who gets in all the best jokes) and show Cap’s earnest conviction. He’s very effective here as well as being a soldier-type without many social graces. Those moments are equally fun when Evans is on screen.
The character of Steve Rogers is actually an interesting guy in many respects, one I wish we could get to spend more time with as he battles Red Skull’s forces. The problem with this film though, lies in the fact so much is depicted and flashed forward that we don’t get adequate time to connect with everyone shown. This makes for a more passive viewing and, although I was more used to this the second time I saw the film, it still feels like a flaw to me. I know the this movie, as much as it is an origin story, is a lead in for The Avengers and is being handled the way the current Avengers animated series had first several episodes play as origin stories for the heroes who form the team. But still, I’d liked to have seen more of what Cap was doing while fighting in WW2 so as to connect more with him and Bucky and everyone else. Maybe there could be a sequel where he fights Baron Zemo or other super villains in that era or at least we get good flashbacks should they choose to tell modern stories from now on. (Evans mentioned he has a 6 picture deal to play the star spangled hero.)
Don’t get me wrong though. This issue aside, Captain America: The First Avenger is a pretty darn good action drama with the right touch of goofy fun that doesn’t distract from the story’s overall pacing. I’ve got a list of favorite comic based films, and so far this year, the ones based on Marvel properties have caused me to alter that list three times, counting this movie. It’s one I recommend to anyone searching for good summer fare or a reason to study up on pop culture and wartime history. Marvel’s got another winner here and I can’t wait for The Avengers, or another Captain America movie.
One last thing: Thank you Joe Johnston for being the filmmaker who finally got this character right.
Grade: A-
