Set in 1940s New York, this origin story detailing how Steve Rogers became Captain America is a visual delight, as
director Joe Johnston manages to capture the essence of the war time era along
with the spectacle of the superhero tale. The title character is played by
Chris Evans and his performance is as endearing as it is commanding.
The main focus of the film is the character
of Steve Rogers and how he is ultimately chosen to take on the role of Captain
America. Steve is an undersized adult who wants to serve and protect his
country but due to his size and health issues has been rejected from joining
the US army on numerous occasions.
His determination is finally rewarded by Dr Abraham Erskine (Stanley
Tucci) when he witnesses his purity of heart and decides he is a suitable
candidate for the super soldier serum. The main issue this film was always going to have was how to deal with
the transformation of Rogers into Captain America. For the first part of the
film Evans appears on screen as a tiny figure and the special effects actually
work really well, I would even describe them as nearly seamless, there are no
tell tale signs that what you are watching is not real. Evans performance is
believable, but it was a strange experience watching his small form on screen
as outside of the film everyone knows what the bulk of the man really looks
like.
The backdrop of the 1940s allows the
camaraderie and patriotism of the time to convey the message and starting point
of Captain America correctly. The detail in the fashion adds to the overall
feel of the film, even the final creation of Captain America’s sleek suit is of
the time. Many of the male cast and extras sport well kept moustaches and the
women’s hair is coiffed to perfection.
The relationships Rogers builds up before
his transformation are dealt with equally well. Introducing Bucky Barnes
(Sebastian Stan) as a reliable best friend and big brother figure to Rogers
works well as the bond between the two needs to be tight to make their
storyline emotionally engaging.
Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) is a strong woman making her stand in a
man’s world. Her charm is her strength and faith as she acts as a moral compass
to those around her including Captain America. The love story between the two is a credible message of this
film; knowing Rogers before and after transformation makes it clear that she
has fallen in love with his goodness rather than his appearance. Of course there are some saucy moments,
including an accidental chest touch and some awkward conversations about
fondue, which are all dealt with in a cheeky and humorous manner. Dr Erskine is a father figure to the
orphaned Rogers, he is the wise observer who nurtures and encourages, and Tucci
gives the character enough depth and warmth to warrant Roger’s friendship and
trust. It is a combination of all
of these bonds that enables Captain America to lead the final part of the film
into some satisfying action scenes.
Tommy Lee Jones excels as the stalwart
Colonel Chester Phillips, and has been given some of the best one-liners to
suit his haughty character. Hugo Weaving emulates evil as the Red Skull, whose
make-up and prosthetics are impressively moulded on to his face to create an
even red sheen that allows for expressions. With his inflated ego and wilful
destruction he acts as a perfect nemesis to Captain America. A handpicked team of “howlin’
commandos” that follow Captain America into battle for his country are made up
of Gabe Jones (Derek Luke), Morita (Kenneth Choi), Jacques Dernier (Bruno
Ricci), Montgomery Falsworth (J.J. Field) and the particularly memorable bulky,
bowler hat wearing Dum Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough).
Joe Johnston has taken note of the source
material and references it in a subtle enough manner for the comic book fan to
enjoy and other audience members not to feel left out. Some characters have been changed to
fit in with the narrative but this is to be expected. It ticks all the
superhero, fast paced action boxes that it needs to and there isn’t much to
criticise here, but it just didn’t blow me away. It was lacking some of the
oomph of Thor and Iron Man, but overall it’s a solid introduction to the character of Captain
America in anticipation of the upcoming The Avengers.
Expected rating: 6 out of 10
Actual rating:
Captain America is released in the UK on July 29th.
