*Note: This was seen in 2D*
I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest Captain America fan. I certainly liked him when I was a kid and do occasionally read some of his comics (though I don’t read much of comics anymore). It wasn’t that I wasn’t intrigued by his character or story. I simply was a bigger fan of Spider-man, Iron Man, X-Men, Batman, etc.
I bring this up to warn you that the following review will be from the casual fan’s perspective. I’m not a diehard Steve Rogers fan, so I’m not entirely sure if his origin story done with justice. The same goes for the treatment of the other characters, such as Bucky Barnes and Red Skull. All I knew going in was a few tiny nuggets and that there was no way this could be worse than the 1990 debacle.
Which it isn’t, thankfully. Far from it, actually. Unlike in that travesty, our Captain America (Chris Evans) stands up for the little man, fends off bullies, has a heart of gold and puts others’ needs before his own. He’s not stealing cars, using damsels as bait and running scared like men from a “Twilight” screening. Steve Rogers is a man of integrity, not a selfish lout.
All he wants to do is serve his country and fend off the evil Nazis (Lt. Aldo Raine may have found good use for him). Due to his small stature (he weighs ninety pounds) and numerous health issues (asthma being his biggest adversary), he is denied his dream on many occasions. He falsifies his record on numerous occasions, in hopes that one army recruiting station will fall for his trick and enlist him. His best friend, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who got through with flying colors, does his best to talk him out of it and serve his country at home in a factory.
Overhearing one of their conversations, Dr. Abraham Erskine (the always wonderful Stanley Tucci) gives Steve an offer he can’t refuse; he’ll grant him his wish and enlist him in the army, as long as he becomes his pet project in a super soldier experiment. Thanks to a special serum, he is transformed from a measly weakling to a human wrecking machine (and future Calvin Klein model).
Steve was given this opportunity as Dr. Erskine felt he wouldn’t take advantage of his newfound strength and use it for personal gain, but to defend the needs of the many. Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) can’t quite grasp this concept, as he wants an army of super soldiers, not just one. It doesn’t matter to him who’s naughty or nice, as there’s no sympathy in war. He may just be a sour puss due to getting coal every year for Christmas.
Steve wasn’t the first test subject for this amazing experiment. Johann Schmidt (a perfectly cast Hugo Weaving) was Dr. Erskine’s first guinea pig. Unfortunately for him, the testing went awry and disfigured his face, therefore producing the villain known as Red Skull. For the first half of the film, he wears a replica mask of himself to hide his hideous dome. Director Joe Johnston made a wise decision in doing so, as it makes the reveal much more sweeter.
With the help of Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper), he is equipped with the highest quality armor and shield, aiding Captain America in his quest to save civilians and battle the maniacal Red Skull. Before all of that goes down, Johnston treats us to a cheeky and amusing sequence in which Steve Rogers dons his first outfit (which is stupendously goofy) and sings songs across the country, selling bonds and signing autographs.
It’s not until Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) convinces him that he’s much more than a walking spokesperson and that he can use his powers and fight alongside his fellows comrades, even if they treat him as a joke. As expected, these two become romantically involved, which is understandable to keep the story going and give Steve more motivation. However, I didn’t feel the two actors had much chemistry together (that’s not for lack of trying) and that their relationship only dragged the film down.
Their relationship does further drive home the fact that Steve Rogers is a humble man. He’s relatable for those like me who have been heavily bullied in their lives and is it’s very easy to root for him. It doesn’t matter that he wears the American flag on his chest and proclaims himself Captain America. No matter what country you live in, you’ll relate and root for this hero, as the true backbone to this film is standing up for what’s right and believing in yourself. No nationality is exempt from this.
No country is exempt from enjoying the spectacular special effects and well done CGI, either. The action sequences, though nothing overly stunning or groundbreaking, are shot well and fill the blockbuster quota that is craved during the summer. The final boss battle with Red Skull isn’t an epic meeting of two behemoths, but a simple fight between two men with opposing viewpoints and some serum in them.
“Captain America” isn’t solely about action, but more involved in telling a story. One set in the lavishly beautiful 1940’s where paperboys still sold their newspapers on the streets shouting “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” It’s got the camp and charm that those times elicited, which can be a bit of a downfall in some areas. Even when it’s being cheeky, Johnston knows when to pull back and infuse drama into the equation.
This isn’t the best superhero movie. Hell, it’s not even the best one this year (“Thor” takes that prize, so far). It is, however, an enjoyable thrill ride that acts like a roller coaster. It starts out nice and smoothly, getting your nerves ready. It installs a few twists and turns to keep your attention, gradually building towards a gratifying finale. Once it’s over and you get off, you walk away with a smile on your face.
Final Rating: B