Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Chirs Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones, Dominic Cooper
Plot: After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers (Evans) volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero tasked with stopping the evil Johann Schmidt's (Weaving) plans for world domination.
'Captain America' is the final piece of puzzle, the one last film Marvel had to get right in the lead up to 'The Avengers' next year and I'm happy to say they have got it right....mostly. After the resounding success that was 'Thor', Marvel had overcome their toughest task in bringing the God Of Thunder to screens and had just 'Cap' to complete before they could launch the Avengers Initiative. Many were skeptical (perhaps more so than 'Thor') that it could be done well, but in the capable hands of Joe Johnston 'Captain America' is more than just another 'Avengers' prequel; *cough* 'Iron Man 2'
I hate to say this because it is such a cliche, but this is very much a film of two halves. First we have an hour or so which is the origin of Captain America and the story of how a weedy kid with a lot of heart was chosen for 'the super soldier' programme. The technology used to make Chris Evans' Steve Rodgers look so small and weak is astounding and completely seamless. It could make many think he immersed himself in the role Christian Bale style, but unbelievably it isn't him. Evans himself is fantastic as both Rogers and 'Cap' giving a certain charm and warmth to what could otherwise have been quite a typically stale 'Golden Boy' character.
The story of Steve Rogers is what is most interesting and what works best about 'Captain America'. How he becomes the title hero is great to watch, as he is repeatedly turned down by recruitment officers judging him to be unfit for service. This is where German scientist Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) comes in offering Steve an oppurtunity to do his part, much to the dissaproval of the skeptical Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones). Erskine believes Rogers has something in him that the other soldiers don't and this is what leads to him becoming Captain America. All the build up to him donning the shield is easily the best part as we get to know and understand Steve Rogers and importantly we see he is isn't overly patriotic, but as he plainly puts it ' he doesn't like bullies'. This may seem like a silly reason to want to go to war, but in context of the character and the film it works perfectly.
The look of the film in this half is also fantastic. Joe Johnston does a great job of recreating 40's New York giving it a classic yet original look. In addition to this we are treated to some of the movie's best scenes with the 'Frankenstein' like super soldier serum scene being my personal favourite. It is shame then that once Rogers finds his true calling as Captain America that the movie goes off the rails slightly. It's the same problem that 'Iron Man' had in that once they establish the superhero he has to find something to do at the end.
While I certainly enjoyed the last 45 minutes of the film it didn't quite match up to what had come before it. There comes a point where the focus shifts from Steve Rogers because he has become Captain America and more on just stopping the villian Johann Schidt's slightly generic plan for world domination/destruction. Hugo Weaving does a good job with the material he has but isn't the most fleshed out of villains and we aren't given any more explanation for his motives other than "he thought he was a God". It is real a shame because when he removes his mask and reveals himself as the Red Skull the make up effects look great and it seems he could have been a classic super villian if he had just a bit more depth
The real disappointment is is that the film descends into a brain dead action flick, which is fun to watch but leaves you with little human connection, other than the closing moments. I do love a good action set piece and 'Cap' has a couple but they seem slightly unneccassary and a just stupid at times, like Schmidt's apparently inpenetrable lair which Cap's crew enter via window - not so impenetrable then. What does work however in this half is the romance between Rogers and Agent Peggy Carter (Atwell). All their scenes together are fantastic and the two have perfect chemistry creating sexual tension every time their on screen.
Atwell herself is a great star for the future and is just one part of quite a talented cast with the previously mentioned Stanley Tucci and Tommy Lee Jones excelling in supporting roles. Dominic Cooper meanwhile is perfect as Tony Stark/Iron Man's Dad being so equally smart and charming that Downey Junior would be proud. Sebastian Stan however is given very little to do in what was an important role in the comics as Bucky Barnes, Rogers best friend. He is given a few scenes to show the extent of his relationship with Steve, but doesn't completely sell it making his part seem almost pointless.
For all my gripes with 'Captain America' I did thoroughly enjoy it. A great cast and a great story go along way and more than make up for the mediocre second half. It was very nearly the best superhero film this year but just falls short with the God of Thunder still claiming that position for me personally. But now looking to the future, Chris Evans is in place as the perfect Steve Rogers and I look forward to seeing him and hopefully some of the other cast members in 'The Avengers' and 'Cap 2' in the next few years.
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