Chris Kavan's Movie Review of Captain America: The First Avenger

A Real, American (Super) Hero
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/07/11

I have been rough on a lot of films this year - for whatever reason, I haven't been impressed, especially not with the dearth of super hero films this time around. Yet something about Captain America clicked with me. Perhaps it was the little guy finally coming out on top, or the way it tied together with the other Avenger films but in the end, I have to say this is my favorite super hero film of 2011.

On this this film has going for it compared to say Thor or Green Lantern is that it relies more on story and characters than big effects. Yes, there are some great fight scenes - a weapons factory with blue-powered weapons that disintegrate people - a fight aboard a massive bomber - but beyond a few key battles, the film is really about our man Steve Rogers and how he deals with becoming Captain America.

I'll admit I've never been particularly impressed with Chris Evans - he just never stood out for me. Yet here he actually puts some heart into his character. When we first meet him, he's being denied again for military service for WWII. It's not so surprising considering he has a laundry list of medical problems and looks to be the quintessential 90 lb weakling. Yet all he wants is to do his part, like his pal Bucky, whose about to be shipped out.

We also learn early on that little Stevie Rogers isn't one to back down from a fight - even when his opponent is much bigger and stronger. Lucky for him, he happens upon a World's Fair (where we see a familiar face in Dominic Cooper's Howard Stark) and a German doctor (played with a nice touch by Stanley Tucci) who has fled his home country takes an interest in him for a special task force.

The basic training portion is the light-hearted part of the film. We're introduced to Tommy Lee Jones' gruff Colonel Chester Phillips (best supporting character for my tastes) and Hayley Atwell's no-nonsense Peggy Carter (and the Cap's sort-of love interest for the film). Despite initial skepticism, it soon becomes apparent that Rogers is the ideal candidate - he has the brains and courage - the good doctor will supply the physique. Following his transformation, an undercover Nazi agent makes short work of the doctor before leading Rogers on a chase - where we get to see his new powers of speed and strength on display, before chomping down on a poisoned tooth and revealing "Hydra" will rise stronger than before.

Here's the weak part of the film for me. While I have great respect for Hugo Weaving, The Red Skull just doesn't seem like that great of villain. Plus, out of all the characters, he's given the least to do other than snarl and kill indiscriminately. Yet I do like how the movie ties in with both Thor and Iron Man - at least the get the continuity right.

Subjecting the newly coined "Captain America" to a U.S. Bond-raising tour across the states - it's fun to watch him "perform" as Captain America (as he tells the prisoners later upon release "I punched out Adolf Hitler 200 times") though holding babies, shaking hands, entertaining kids seems a grand waste of talent. And at a show for actual troops, he realizes he is just a performing monkey and he wants to make a difference.

I have to say that after building up and watching the character transform, when we actually get to Captain America fighting in the war itself I don't find thing nearly as satisfying. Sure the outfit is better, the shield is nice but overall we're stepping back in to generic action territory. However, the way the movie ends is great - plus make sure you stay for the post-credits sequence as well. For once it's worth it.

Captain America is not your typical hero. He isn't about flash or gadgets. He, as he says, is just a regular kid from Brooklyn. But that's what puts the "hero" in super hero. A normal guy put in extraordinary circumstances who never loses who he is at heart.