Film review: Captain America: The First Avenger
by Suzan Ryan , under Reviews
Captain America: The First Avenger
Director: Joe Johnston
Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Dominic Cooper, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci
Paramount Pictures
AFTER the disjointed mess of The Wolfman, comic fans had understandable reservations about Joe Johnston helming this tale of the origin of the first Avenger. The hit and miss director was well within his element in the same vein as one of his earliest films, (and perhaps most fondly remembered) The Rocketeer. Captain America has a similar set up. An unlikely hero battling a Nazi menace, stunningly proportioned co-stars and a suitably dastardly villain obsessed with world domination.
Mild and meek Steve Rogers (Chris Evans – Scott Pilgrim, Street Kings) just wants to serve his country and take it to ze Germans, or as he calls them “bullies” of WWII. Repeated failed enlistment attempts coupled with the vast shadow cast by his best friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) leave him pondering his future until a defecting German scientist, played beautifully by Stanley Tucci, sees beyond Rogers’ measly frame to the strength and determination behind it and admits him to a secret government program designed to genetically engineer a super soldier.
After an amazing transformation, Rogers becomes the icon known as Captain America and is under-utilised as a cash cow for the war effort until news of Bucky’s capture springs him into action and comic book history. More than a simple figurehead Cap and Bucky take it to the Krauts leading to a showdown against the evil and twisted Red Skull.
Full credit must go to Joe Johnston for wonderfully handling this project. The film is beautifully shot with particular and respectful attention to Cap’s canon and the use of his indestructible shield. There’s a rare sensitivity to Rogers’ story. The character development is believable, he distils solid all around performances from the cast and is surprisingly restrained on the patriotism angle.
Chris Evans is immensely likeable as Steve Rogers, leaving his usual cockiness at the door in the lead role. His physical metamorphosis is astounding, on par with Will Smith’s massive increase in muscle mass for Ali. The special effects used to meld his face on a significantly slighter body for the first section of the film are impossible to detect and seamless. His alter ego, The Red Skull, is menacingly played by Hugo Weaving, providing the perfect counterpoint to Cap’s wholesomeness. This is not Weaving playing a variation of V or Agent Smith emulating past roles. The Red Skull feels fresh, terrifying and moves with unrelenting purpose. You couldn’t ask for a better hero/villain combination.
Make sure to stick around after the credits for a sneak peek at the upcoming super powered extravaganza The Avengers. With cinemas overflowing with comic book adaptations, Captain America is a rare gem. Exciting, entertaining and heartfelt, it is bested only by Christopher Nolan’s comic book origins-to-movie efforts. Kudos to Marvel Studios, you’re doing it right.
Captain America: The First Avenger opens today.
Review: Dave Kozicki
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