Review: Captain America

When I heard about Chris Evans being cast as Captain America, I'll admit I was somewhat put-out. Not only did I find it hard to think of him as anything other than a cocky, womanising man-child, but I also felt there should be a one-superhero-only clause in every Marvel actor's contract. It's not exactly a secret that Evans played Johnny Storm in both Fantastic Four films, and my attitude was kind of: "Come on, mate, give someone else a turn."

That said, I think Evans did a great job in the role and take back all my cynical comments. I always thought that Hugo Weaving was an excellent choice to play the Red Skull (or really...any baddie would do), and I was pleasantly surprised at Hayley Atwell's being cast as Peggy Carter -- it's pretty rare that an American film company and American writers decide to turn an American character British. It has to be said that her hourglass figure and chiselled bone structure fits remarkably well in the 1940s background. Tommy Lee Jones also did an excellent job as the grumpy, no-nonsense army leader, Stanley Tucci is invariably brilliant at everything he turns his hand to (be it gay fashionista, shiver-inducing paedophile or kindly doctor. THAT is talent) and Toby Jones is always good value as the bad guy's snivelling sidekick.

Anyway, enough about the actors. The story, it has to be said, followed the Spiderman/Daredevil formula of an Average-Joe guy from a somewhat difficult background being transformed into an impressive superhunk, facing a similarly genetically screwed-up baddie, getting the girl and saving the world. Interestingly, though, Captain America: The First Avenger does have a few differences. Most impressively was the CGI effect of having Chris Evans face superimposed over some short, skinny guy's body - the effect was surprisingly convincing, apart from a few moments of noticing that his head looked too big for his body. Another difference is that he is deliberately turned into a superhuman, for the purpose of the USAs fight against the Nazis (another staple of recent superhero movies). However, then the plot goes back to being a bit formulaic; his abilities are questioned and he is cast aside until proving himself in some massively unlikely but very heroic one-man assault on a top-security Nazi facility. Then he's made the boss, engages in some noble hijinks before a massive confrontation with the uber-bad-guy at the end. The bittersweet ending, though not surprising (clues are dropped from the very first scene), was a bit different, and though it was inevitable and unavoidable, it still depressed me.

Overall, though, I did enjoy the film. One of the things I've consistently loved about the Marvel films - largely the ones gearing up to be Avenger films - are the many references to other in-universe characters and concepts. Howard Stark is one such character, as is the brief appearance of Nick Fury in Captain America: First Avenger, along with the standard Stan Lee cameo that always gets Marvel fans excited.

Basic summary: a pacey, action-packed and exciting superhero movie; not much to surprise you, but plenty to enjoy. Generally good fun.

Rating: * * * (good)