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Captain America: The First Avenger - Film Review
Grade: C+
Establishing the final building block to the imminent Avengers film, Marvel releases yet another superhero in this abundant blockbuster summer of Thor, X-Men First Class, and Green Lantern. This time director Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park 3, October Sky) is bringing a retro vibe to the saturated genre with Captain America: The First Avenger. While the film undoubtedly brings the usual blockbuster fun and action, it without a question does not bring anything new to the table.
Paying homes to the days of Saturday morning cartoons, Captain America approaches the character - originally created in 1941 - with the simplest archetypal plot of the bad guy vs good guy. Set in America in the midst of World War II, the film focuses on the origins of Steve Rogers, a lanky guy who has played the role of the underdog his whole life. In Roger’s multiple failed endeavors to enlist in the Allied forces, he is finally led to enrollment in a secret army project that transforms him into the “perfect soldier.” Being the only one of his type in the Ally forces, Rogers dedicates his science given strength to defeat Hitler’s mad scientist, Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), and his corporation, Hydra. Chris Evans (Fantastic Four) is supported by the gorgeous Hayley Atwell (The Dutchess), who plays Roger’s love interest, Tommy Lee Jones, the stern colonel, and a brief appearance by Stanley Tucci, the scientist behind Roger’s transformation. Acting-wise, the film rightly overshadows its performances. While Evans perfectly fits the appearance of the title character, his dull personality characterizing Rogers suits him more as eye-candy for the female demographic than a character who encapsulates the sense of an average individual. The supporting cast do give commendable performances, especially that of Tucci and Atwell, but it is obvious that the acting force does not play much of a role in the film.
But what Captain America lacks in acting, it makes up for with its excitement. Like most of its Summer competition, Captain America provides an action packed two hours of guns, explosions, and fistfights. Director Johnston also places an interesting retro vibe with its unique art direction - utilizing a vintage soundtrack and set design - that is unseen in many blockbusters. But overall, it is essentially the same formulaic structure seen in most blockbusters, which is not necessarily a bad aspect, but an obvious reprisal of repeating exploitation. But there is one characteristic that separates Captain America from most, specifically the recent debacle Transformers 3, it avoids the incessant talking. The film dives into the action within the first half-hour which gives the blockbuster audience what it came for, a thrilling recreation of a classic superhero.
Overall, because of the relatively weak performance of Chris Evans, Captain America: The First Avenger lacks any of the pathos, emotional appeal, that was seen in the superior X-Men: First Class. But the film succeeds in the most important aspect of the genre, it is undeniably fun. With its retro vibe and fast plot movement, the film is an action packed thrill ride that is of the better summer films. Grade: C+
