Directed by: Joe Johnston
Starring: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, and Hugo Weaving
Reviewer: Brett Gallman
Reviewer's Rating: *** (Three Stars)
Marvel’s first Avenger is the last to get his own feature film, and it’s been worth the wait. Cap’s initial outing is a more than solid origin story that describes how puny Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) becomes a guinea pig for a government “super soldier” serum that transforms him into a super hero. He eventually finds his way into the European theater, where an occult Nazi division (Hydra) is constructing a doomsday device under the orders of The Red Skull (Hugo Weaving). The success of this film starts with Evans, who is seemingly an odd choice for Rogers; we know he can do brash and cocky, but he pulls off a boyish, idealist charm effortlessly here. Captain America is Marvel’s big Boy Scout, and Evans exudes that quality in spades. He’s evenly matched by Weaving, who is wonderfully sinister as the maniacal Red Skull, who dreams of walking amongst gods.
The struggle is typical comic book stuff, and some action sequences look to be ripped right out of the panels. While it isn’t particularly inventive and presents a standard origin story, it never labors through it like so many films like this do. So many are content to mark off a check list, but this one is more concerned with building an entire world rather than one character. Evans is surrounded by an impressive cast--Haley Atwell is a revelation as the love interest, while Tommy Lee Jones is a delight as a temperamental commanding officer. Genuine wit is often on display; sure, this is mostly a sort of swashbuckling adventure (with machine guns and lasers) complete with some serviceable action bits, but the humorous character moments will stick around longer.
Joe Johnston proves to be an inspired directorial choice, as he pretty much nails everything from the tone to the film’s look (the period setting is especially well done, as there’s a glint of polished nostalgia to it). One thing this film does share with most first superhero films is a promise that the best is yet to come; the ending here would seem awkward if you were oblivious to next year’s Avengers film. Stick around after the credits if you need a primer on that, as the best tease yet awaits.
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