18 Jul Nerdy for Thirty #14: Captain America: The First Avenger

CAPTATIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

dir. Joe Johnston, starring Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, and Tommy Lee Jones

Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel’s first period piece, gives the audience a look at war-torn Europe during World War II. Back in the U.S., a sickly kid named Steve Rogers is transformed into super-soldier Captain America, presumably to turn the tide of the war. When he’s instead used for political purposes, British officer Peggy Carter motivates him to become the man he’s meant to be. With the aid of the Howling Commandos and his best friend Bucky Barnes, Captain America takes the fight to Hydra, the science arm of Hitler’s Third Reich, led by the sinister Red Skull.

What seems like a standard war movie set within what would become a world of superpowered beings, it’s sometimes easy to forget that the theme of The First Avenger is the measure of the heart of a small man who, through noble actions, enacts great change. While the action is fun, the quieter elements (Steve’s interactions with Dr. Erskine, his relationship with Peggy Carter, the bromance with Bucky) are what make the movie as good as it is. One of the classic tales of good vs evil, the Red Skull, the twisted, corrupted version of what Steve could’ve been, clashes in a battle of ideals with the soldier. With great action, magnificent character development, and enjoyable bits of humor sprinkled throughout, Captain America: The First Avenger stands as one of the MCU’s upper tier movies.

Starring Chris Evans as the famed super-soldier, The First Avenger immediately cemented him as one of the best superhero castings of all time. Tall, muscular, and handsome, these features are bolstered by Evans’ ability to pull off both the action and the dramatic scenes, giving us a Captain America that believably loves his country and is willing to do what it takes to protect innocents without tipping over into a realm of cheesiness or oversentimentality. The entire movie (and some might be able to argue the entire Infinity Saga) hinges on Chris Evans’ performance as Cap and, starting with this film, he does not disappoint.

Also starring Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, the chemistry between her and Evans’ Cap is undeniable. Headstrong, intelligent, and fierce, Peggy is played brilliantly by Atwell as she refuses to be sidelined in the action. On loan from the British forces to Americans, it’s Peggy that empowers Steve Rogers to become more than he is. A sizeable chunk of Steve’s motivations throughout his time in the MCU is dependant on his early interactions with Peggy, and for that Atwell rises to the challenge, delivering a character memorable enough to recieve her own spinoff show.

As the Red Skull, Captain America’s greatest enemy, Hugo Weaving came to play. If Thor was the first of the MCU films to really present a compelling villain, there’s a bit of a backslide here in The First Avenger. Red Skull’s quest for more and more power and autonomy from Hitler makes for yet another of the antagonists whose only goal is to gain more of what they already have. While that makes for weak motivations, it’s wonderfully sold by Weaving, who’s always great when playing the bad guy. For his only appearance against Cap, Weaving is more than a match, giving delicious scene-chewing monologues and using his intelligence and deviousness more than his fists to do battle against the soldier. Thanks to Weaving’s performance, Red Skull is one of the most comic book accurate villains of the modern era, in the best possible way.

Directed by Joe Johnston, possibly most known for directing the period adventure film The Rocketeer, he brings that same sensibility to The First Avenger. A director that’s proven time and again he knows adventure movies, this initial outing of Cap has plenty of that, but Johnston and screenwriters Markus and McFeely strive to ensure that in all that action, the intentions of a man trying to do what’s right remain at its center. Impressive production design, possible some of the MCU’s best, places the audience square inside the mid 1940s as Cap and the Commandos move through Europe destroying Hydra bases. Just over two hours, the movie starts slow as Steve meets Dr. Erskine and quickly ramps up after the super solider injection. From there, Johnston and editors Jeffrey Ford and Robert Dalva keep the story rushing along until it’s climactic one-on-one battle in the skies over the Atlantic Ocean.

Overall, Captain America: The First Avenger is a solid addition to the Phase One archives and the MCU in general. One of a handful of MCU outings that works just as effectively at focusing on its main character as it does furthering the mythology of the overall universe, Joe Johnston’s delicate balance of character vs plot is one for the ages. With an excellent cast headed by what would become one of the faces of the franchise in Chris Evans, The First Avenger is cemented as the moment the franchise really started kicking into high gear.

Review by Darryl Mansel