Drew does Captain America: The First Avenger

“So many people forget that the first country the Nazis invaded was their own.”

The Scoop: 2011 PG-13, directed by Joe Johnston and starring Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving and Hayley Atwell

Tagline: Discover the origin of the first Avenger

Summary Capsule: Scrawny 98-pound weakling gets sand kicked in his face by mean Nazis, then enrolls in Charles Atlas’ course, bulks up, and becomes the hero of the beach!

Drew’s Rating: In keeping with my Thor review, I’ll be writing this one in the voice of a blond-haired, blue-eyed American badass. You’re welcome.

Drew’s Review: From the start, Captain America: The First Avenger had a major advantage and a significant disadvantage with me. The advantage is that of all the Avengers-related films (Iron Man, Thor, etc.), it’s the one I was most looking forward to. And the disadvantage is that… it’s the one I was most looking forward to. I’m someone who always needs to see the man in the Superman. It’s what Marvel became famous for — back when DC had twenty costumed heroes sharing one personality, Marvel’s heroes squabbled, got picked on, struggled to pay the rent. It’s less important to me that someone can lift a tank as it is to know what drives him to want to lift tanks in the first place. Like Batman, Captain America is one of the least powerful heroes in comics, yet exudes such leadership and bravery that gods and geniuses follow his orders without question. He embodies the ideals most of us constantly strive for; plus he personally socked Hitler in the face. Ergo, coolness. But it wasn’t always that way…

In 1943, Steve Rogers (Evans) is 220 lbs of grit stuffed into a 98 lb sack. Wanting nothing more than to fight for his country, he keeps being rejected as physically unfit for service. But Steve catches the attention of Dr. Erskine (Stanley Tucci), who needs a guinea pig volunteer to test his super-soldier serum, designed to transform a body into peak human physical condition. The U.S. government wants an army of super-soldiers; and assisted by Agent Peggy Carter (Atwell), who clearly drank all of the super-sexy serum, Steve complies and instantly goes from Franklin Roosevelt to Teddy Roosevelt. But when a Nazi saboteur kills Erskine and the formula dies with him, the program is deemed a failure and Steve an interesting oddity, useful for propaganda purposes and little else. That is until Steve’s friend Bucky is captured by the Red Skull (Weaving), a rogue Nazi setting up his own regime using a mysterious power rooted in Norse legend. Aided by Carter and inventor Howard Stark (Domonic Cooper), the good Captain is ready to go AWOL, storm the fortress, and beat some Nazi ass. And boy, are we ready to watch him do it.

One much appreciated aspect of Captain America is that while it’s definitely flag-waving, it isn’t jingoistic… which, let’s face it, was a danger in a movie like this. Dr. Erskine is a German refugee quick to point out that Nazis don’t represent all German people, and when Cap displays momentary surprise at seeing a man of Japanese heritage being held prisoner with U.S. soldiers, he’s quickly admonished in perfect English with “I’m from San Francisco” (with the “jerk” left unsaid but implied). Cap is a symbol that anyone, no matter their beginnings, can rise up and achieve greatness, and if there’s a better expression of the ideal conception of America’s melting pot, I haven’t heard it. We’ll politely ignore the fact that Steve Rogers gains success by injecting muscle-stimulating chemicals into his body and that these days that’s enough to earn you a lifetime ban from the game of baseball, because really, why quibble?

In terms of acting, Chris Evans is perhaps slightly wooden, but he’s kind of supposed to be, because so is the character. (Sorry, Cap.) He’s best in the pre-transformation scenes, displaying a heartbreakingly earnest desire to serve despite his physical limitations. Meanwhile, Hayley Atwell looks every inch the pin-up girl her character resembles but isn’t; she’s fine in the role, but I can’t say the romance between Peggy and Steve particularly clicked for me. Hugo Weaving does what he always does, which is to say creeps you the eff out with his voice while turning in a solid performance. I think he’s hurt a little by the make-up/CGI, but such is the nature of the beast. Impressing me the most was Domonic Cooper as Howard Stark. You can see in him the genius and the penchant for quips and womanizing that he’ll pass on to his son (which is a huge credit to Cooper, having to emulate Robert Downey Jr. while seeming more like a predecessor), but also less self-confidence and more awkwardness, not being born into success as his son will be. Well done, sir.

Even though I enjoyed Captain America a lot, don’t think it gets away without any criticism. Some of it is just typical action movie stuff, like a car being able to catch a jet mid-takeoff. But while I understand why the ending needed to be the way it was, it doesn’t make it seem like any less of a contrived set-up for the Avengers movie… which, of course, is exactly what it is. And fair enough, but a slightly better reason could have been given for why Steve needs to take the course of action he does with the jet. I also really, really dislike the half-baked notion that the super-soldier serum amplifies what’s in a person, for good or evil. That’s really hokey and tries to instill a quasi-metaphysical element into something that didn’t need it. Just let the Red Skull be an evil S.O.B. and Steve Rogers a genuinely good guy who happens to get a body to match his spirit. No amplification necessary.

As I said at the beginning, I was predisposed to like this movie by my love of country and my enjoyment of the comic character. (Yes I did intentionally wear a red shirt to go with my blue jeans and white socks, and no you may not laugh at that, commie.) But it also faced an uphill battle because of my heightened expectations. I’m happy to report that Captain America: The First Avenger mostly lives up to them. No, it’s not quite as slick as Iron Man, and Spider-Man remains the preferred “superhero origin story,” but if Cap doesn’t exactly blaze new trails, it at least retreads familiar ground in a most agreeable way, and that’s not easy to pull off in a period piece. Granted it’s largely a set-up for next summer’s Avengers movie; but that doesn’t stop Captain America from telling its own story and doing it well. Much respect, Cap.

Now…

“And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth’s mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Avengers were born — to fight the foes no single hero could withstand. Heed the call, then — for now, the Avengers Assemble!”

I post so many boob pictures in these things, so here's a little something for the ladies.

Intermission

• Like every recent Marvel movie, there’s a scene following the end credits, though this one’s more of a trailer for the upcoming Avengers movie. Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson are all featured. Apparently the tagline will be “Some Assembly Required.”
• Raiders of the Lost Ark reference FTW!
• Tommy Lee Jones boasts that an army of super-soldiers will “escort Adolf Hitler to the gates of Hell.” In the Marvel Universe, Hitler was killed by Cap’s fellow WWII hero, the original Human Torch. And what hero did Chris Evans portray in two Fantastic Four movies? None other than the “new” Human Torch.
• To that point: at the fair Steve and Bucky attend, a sign reading “Phineas Horton presents” adorns a glass dome containing what appears to be a mannequin in a red costume. This is the original Human Torch, Marvel’s first superhero, an android created by Dr. Horton.
• Though never referred to as such, Cap’s crew are the Howling Commandoes. In the comics they were led by Sgt. Nick Fury; the survivors would go on to help found SHIELD.
• At one point, Steve can be seen drawing in a sketchbook. In the comics, Cap is a decent artist; for a period of time Steve Rogers even worked as an artist for Marvel Comics, illustrating the Captain America comic book!
• In the comics, the Cosmic Cube is a man-made device. I have to give the screenwriters credit for tying it in with Thor by making it a Norse artifact.
• Could be wrong, but was that a Doctor Strangelove reference?
• Hydra in the Marvel Universe are the main adversaries of SHIELD. They were founded by Baron von Strucker, another wartime foe of Cap’s. Dr. Arnim Zola, seen in the film as the Red Skull’s main lackey, will go on to be a mad geneticist and major pain in the revived Cap’s ass.
• The cover of Captain America’s first appearance, published in March 1941, depicted Cap punching Hitler in the jaw. This was a somewhat bold decision on the part of Timely (the company that would become Marvel), since in 1941 America was still a year away from entering the war. While many Americans despised Hitler and what he stood for, plenty still favored uninvolvement in the war, and there were open Nazi supporters in the U.S.

Groovy Quotes

Red Skull: And the fuhrer digs for trinkets in the desert.

Steve: What am I gonna do, collect scrap in my little red wagon?

Dr. Erskine: So many people forget that the first country the Nazis invaded was their own.

Dr. Erskine: A strong man who has known power all his life will abuse that power. But a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows compassion.

Peggy: You have no idea how to talk to a woman, do you?
Steve: I think this might be the longest conversation I’ve ever had with one.

Steve: That wasn’t so bad.
Dr. Erskine: That was penicillin.

Red Skull: Cut off one head, two more shall take its place. Hail Hydra!

Col. Phillips: If you have something to say, now’s the perfect time to keep it to yourself.

Peggy: You can’t give me orders!
Cap: The hell I can’t – I’m a captain!

Red Skull: Arrogance may not be a uniquely American trait, but I must say you do it better than anyone.

Hydra soldier: Cut off one head, two more sha– [BAM!]
Col. Phillips: Let’s go find two more!

Nick Fury: You’ve been asleep, Cap. For almost seventy years.

If You Liked This Movie, Try These:

• Iron Man
• Batman
• The Rocketeer