If you take a World War II movie, dial up the action with contemporary visual effects and CGI, then give your hero a double dose of steroids and human growth hormones, you wind up in the movie/comic book world of Captain America: The First Avenger. The movie is, of course, Marvel Comics' and Paramounts filmization of Joe Simon and Jack Kirbys Super Soldier series that first appeared in comic books in March 1941, well before Pearl Harbor, so understandably this is one superhero movie that demands that the first movie at least be a period one. So you get an alternative WWII, say like Quentin Tarantinos Inglourious Basterds -- only without all that dialogue and enough oversized vehicles and outlandish sets to fit its beefcake hero.
Captain America delivers comic book action that should satisfy Captain Americas fans, old and new, while Chris Evans no-nonsense yet engaging portrayal of a man who doesnt know how to back away from a fight may cause young women to swoon and young men to join a gym. Yet the film will leave others wondering -- especially following the films long gestation and marketing buildup -- Is this all there is?
For in terms of even recent films, Captain America lacks the deft touch, appealing character interaction and sophisticated storytelling skills of Marvel Comics X-Men: First Class. And lets not even bother to compare this to Christopher Nolans Batman series. (and this is the reason RottenTomatoes dinged this as 'rotten').
Sticking to its simplistic, patriotic origins, where a muscular red, white and blue GI slugging Adolf Hitler in the jaw is all thats required, Captain America trafficks in red-blooded heroes, dastardly villains, classy dames and war-weary military officers. There is no ambiguity here. Nor does any superhero question his powers. No, sir, not in this war and not with these determined heroes.
Director Joe Johnston makes certain that amid all the retro-futuristic nonsense, his nucleus of actors playing SSR heroes fits well together. Evans nicely underplays the role, giving a Gary Cooper-ish air to the young hero who just wants to do the right thing. Atwell is a perfect throwback to that era: Darkly gorgeous yet tough as nails, she would look just at home painted on a bomber fuselage as she is slugging a solider who gives her lip.
Jones knows how to make every moment of screen time count with these grumpy and gruff characters he now plays, but Stan and Cooper arent so lucky: Their characters came out a little too thin in Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeelys screenplay. Meanwhile, Weaving is very one-notish as the villain, which leaves it to Toby Jones, as his sidekick, to add a little nuance to Nazi villainy.
The tech team brilliantly supports the comic book action without any single department showing off or adding unnecessary flourishes. A special tip of the hat to Anna B. Sheppards costumes and Rick Heinrichs production design for maintaining enough period flavor so the production doesnt go too overboard.
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