A Marvel(ous) hero

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Certified: 12
Duration: 124 minutes
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Starring: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke, Stanley Tucci
KRS release

Marvel scores another hit with Captain America, an adaptation that could have gone wrong in all so many ways. In an age when cheering a hero covered with the star-spangled flag who stands up for good old-fashioned ideals is seen as corny, Joe Johnston has delivered an entertaining picture.

The director brings the same kind of pulp vibes and fun that had made his Rocketeer (1991) such a critics’ darling.

American Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is desperate to do his patriotic duty in 1942. However, his weak physique does not permit him to join the US Army. His best friend James “Bucky” Barnes gets accepted and Steve Rogers persists in trying to enlist.

Scientist Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), a German émigré who is heading the Strategic Scientific Research team, notices this. After working with the Nazi Dr Zola (Toby Jones) and Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) of Hydra, he had escaped to US.

The team also includes British representative Peggy Carter, weapons inventor Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) and US Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones). The team is trying to create a super-soldier formula that can turn normal men into muscular super soldiers. Steve Rogers is injected with the formula and the transformation is incredible. The experiment is destroyed by a Nazi agent and Rogers becomes Captain America. He is used as a promotional figure to sell war bonds.

Armed with a high-tech shield Rogers wants to go to war and is soon on a one man mission to save hundreds of prisoners. Schmidt, now also known as The Red Skull, has created an arsenal of super weaponry and a serum with which he amplified his own body. The confrontation between the two is inevitable.

One of the film’s greatest digital effects is how Chris Evans is made to look all emaciated and weak. He also reminded me of those quaint Charles Atlas adverts that Marvel comic books used to have. In this classic weakling to hero story Mr Evans tackles his character with such sincerity, such clear black and white delineations that it’s very easy to be swept along in his optimistic attitude. The overall feel is that of the 1940s and 1950s matinee films with a sense of boys’ own adventure.

Hugo Weaving is convincing as the maniacal Red Skull but he lacks a sense of greater evil. He is a strong villain but he could have been a really evil villain. Hayley Atwell as love interest Peggy Carter is given an hourglass kind of look that was so popular at the time. Her on-screen relationship with Mr Evans is believable but it never sets the screen on fire. However, this is understandable as Captain America is all out for duty and honour not romance! Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark (Tony Stark’s aka Iron Man’s future father) is a real scream and one can immediately recognise where Tony Stark got his genes.

The film has a sci-fi look straight from the comic books and pulp magazines of the time. Hydra and its technology, including giant bomber and kinky submersibles, are well presented.

In this year’s superhero race, Captain America is miles ahead of Green Lantern and on a par with the excellent Thor; however, the best of the lot must be X-Men: First Class.

However, by the end of its duration, Captain America will leave fans slavering for next year’s Avengers which will see the hero teaming up with other Marvel stablemates of the likes of Thor and Iron Man. A very good comic book adaptation that never forgets its audience and its hero.