We finally have reached Act Five of Marvel's colossal pre-AVENGERS build up, so of course they left the best for last. For you see, the absolute best thing about CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER is just the final two minutes of its 124 minute running time. Marvel and Paramount chose to have the last post-credits stinger be the very first teaser trailer of THE AVENGERS. Much rejoicing all around for this decision, except for the fact that you have to sit through this movie to experience it.
CAPTAIN AMERICA isn't a complete failure, nor a mangled tapestry of film. The major problem is that it is just a B-movie. Not a B-movie that goes beyond its limitations with pure imagination or cheesy entertainment, similar to the director's previous work THE ROCKETEER. It is simply just a by-the-numbers superhero film. Nazis die, people are saved, heroic sacrifices, et cetera, et cetera.
After a brief prologue inside a frozen airship, we are whisked back to a fantastical version of World War II. A nefariously evil Nazi officer nicknamed "The Red Skull", played by Hugo Weaving, is searching all over Europe for a magical device that once belong to Odin himself. Once obtaining it, he sets out on his own evil plan with his personal army to make powerful laser guns or bombs or something. Honestly, despite Weaving's best efforts, this villainous plotline is beyond dull with its "take over the world" banality and exposition-laden scenes. Meanwhile, back in the great land that is America, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) wants to serve his proud country but his immense courage and inner strength are negated by his brittle physical frame. Sympathetic to his plight, a scientist selects him for a secret military project to create super-soldiers. Fortunately and unfortunately, he is the sole person to be given the treatment and then must decide how to use his new powers for the greater good, for America.
The pro-USA element is not a mark against the film. In fact, the best sequence is when the newly-christened Captain America goes on propaganda campaigns to sell war bonds and act in a movie serial all his own. Even when the film turns into "Band of Brothers" with a good dose of science fiction, it still has some mild enjoyment. However, nothing new and absolutely exciting comes from the script except for a few sly jokes. THOR was able to create a whole new universe and show the Marvel world in a more light-hearted but still tragic light. This movie is unable to flesh out characters, especially Captain's new motley crew of soldiers, or make a truly climatic final battle between good and evil. Instead, you have a lifeless and predictable story before the creators pull the rug under your feet to remind you that all of the cliffhangers will be solved next year.
It's sad that a lot of good talent was wasted just for this film to be only satisfactory to watch. The cast do their best with the material and several, most notably Chris Evans and breakthrough star Hayley Atwell, are able to bring warmth and true delight to the often boring landscape. Director Joe Johnston goes through the motions except for some interestingly dark and surreal sequences, such a visual tour of an interrogation room or the grand finale. However, despite the effective ending, I couldn't help noticing that it would have worked better as the beginning of THE AVENGERS, designating Captain America as the audience's surrogate. The fact that the only striking elements of this film is AVENGERS-related tells you how much care and consideration this film was given.
FINAL REVIEW: 3 / 5
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