Another Take: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) Review

By Jason Haskins


After a summer of disappointment (Green Lantern), triumph (Thor), and school (X-Men: First Class), we’ve finally come to the last of the big comic book movies of the year: Captain America. Originally made in 1990 starring JD Salinger’s son, it’s safe to say that I found it hard to believe this character could translate well into the dynamic  medium of film. As my first grade math teacher always said, I was pathetically wrong.

The film begins with a team finding a shield deep in the ice before a flashback occurs where you meet young Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a creepy-looking small guy who just wants to serve his country during World War II no matter the cost. What sucks is that he’s crazy small and the army don’t want no shrimps (literally allergic to shellfish).

That all changes when a German doctor (Stanley Tucci) working for the US government overhears Rogers fight with his good friend, Bucky (Sebastian Stan), at Howard Stark’s expo (see that tie-in with Iron Man?!!!!!) and decides that he’d be perfect for the [dot, dot, dot] hush-hush top secret SUPER SOLDIER PROGRAM!

You see, the Nazis have this occult sector of their little organization called Hydro led by Johann Schmidt, who Tucci’s character used to study and take jello shots with before Adolf Hitler gained power. Schmidt took the super soldier serum before it was finished and turned into this super powered villain (code-name: Red Skull because of his appearance). He’s devised a plan with Hydra to take over the world using this special energy source he’s found (connected to Thor—whoa, do you see that tie-in?!!!?) leaving the Nazis in the dust.

The basic premise is that shrimp soldier turns to super soldier, but isn’t used by the military except as a propaganda tool (very funny stuff, even pointing out the ridiculousness of the Cap costume) until he mans up to become the soldier he was meant to be and lead the Americans into allied territories to blow up these energy factories , stop Hydra and Schmidt’s evil plan, and maybe get some tail from Hayley Atwell. America! Fuck Yeah!

I’ve read a few dozen of the comic books growing up and while Cap is sort of fun (particularly recently with Ed Brubaker’s involvement) I wasn’t sold on the idea especially in the political climate we find ourselves in. In other words, I didn’t want a smug gung-ho American movie that would make our friends over in France vomit. However, what’s great about this film is that it keeps all of these things in mind and sidesteps politics for the most part. This isn’t one big propaganda film—it’s a comic book movie. More importantly, it’s the movie before Joss Whedon’s colossal Avengers movie (stick around after the credits).

The action is all pretty vibrant and doesn’t rely on a whole mess of special effects to really showcase Captain America’s strengths. What’s even more kosher than that is how awesome Cap’s shield mechanics are and the pacing of the action scenes to keep you entertained and floored especially during the last moments of the film where all hell goes down between Red Skull and Cap.

Chris Evans felt like a great leading man for the character and I was sold immediately after he took the serum. The special effects to make him look smaller? A little creepy—I’m not going to lie, but what can you do—he’s very good in this. It’s actually hard to believe this little bushy tailed actor used to be Johnny Storm not so long ago. The rest of the cast is special as well with Hugo Weaving putting forth another unforgettable (and cold!) performance. Atwell is both a good and super attractive actress. Tommy Lee Jones actually has a solid supporting role that he excels in completely in this charming and super funny way as Cap’s commander.

There’s no question Marvel Studios is really putting their best feet forward with their franchises on screen and they succeed once again with Captain America: The First Avenger. Director Joe Johnston is probably most well known for his classic 1991 film, The Rocketeer, and it’s safe to say that the attitude and charm of that movie is very much alive in this one. In fact, I’d go as far to say that there’s a strong Indiana Jones sort of feeling to this movie and perhaps a little bit of Inglorious Basterds (oh no he didn’t). This is definitely a great choice to go see at the theater and a great example of money well spent. Captain America! Fuck Yeah!

© Jason Haskins, 2011

 4.5 out of 5 stars