In my Thor review, I mentioned how that film has grown on me in subsequent viewings and the same can be said for the next entry in the MCU, Captain America: The First Avenger. While I wasn’t as underwhelmed by it in comparison to Thor when I first saw it, I did find it quite boring in parts and felt that there were serious pacing issues.
I decided to look at it through a different lens when a few friends said it was actually one of their favorite MCU titles, mostly because it’s so different from much of the gallery. Much like Thor, which contains elements of Norse mythology and Shakespearean themes fused with comic book elements, The First Avenger takes a period piece and effectively blends it with its comic book roots. I didn’t appreciate this aspect of the film when I first saw it and I have grown to view it as a quality that makes the film stand out in a good way. There are still issues with pacing, but the film is actually more thrilling the more you watch it and actually is a nice stepping stone for what will arguably become the best of the series of standalone films to feature one of the Avengers.
The thing that differentiates Captain America from other superheroes who have graced the screen in recent memory is that the action takes place neither on modern-day Earth nor in outer space. In this case, we get a period piece – a re-imagination of some of what went on behind the scenes in the struggle against the Nazis. Captain America, a super-soldier created by ex-German scientist Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) using the “raw material” of Rogers’ (Chris Evans) body, is initially employed as a propaganda figure for selling war bonds before he is sent on a rescue mission behind enemy lines. However, instead of going after Hitler, Captain America gets sidetracked and ends up tangling with Red Skull and the secret society he has created.
Director Joe Johnston uses a similar aesthetic here to the one he applied to The Rocketeer, another comic-inspired period piece that is vastly underrated. It’s easy to see why Johnston was chosen to direct this film when compared to his earlier effort because he has a visual eye for the time period and he translates it well here. Despite the different characters and subject matter, the movies are peas in a pod. Johnston’s use of slightly muted colors and carefully modulated lighting, make this a very accurate translation of the time period.
The CGI work, it must be said, is at times exceptional, believably transforming actor Chris Evans into 90-pound weakling Steve Rogers. In fact, the computer enhancements are so good that I couldn’t determine whether they were also used to “beef up” Rogers after he undergoes the treatment that transforms him into the bulky Captain America (I know now that Chris Evans beefs up for the role when called upon). As best I can tell, no special effects are needed for Hayley Atwell (who plays Rogers’ love interest, Agent Peggy Carter), Sebastian Stan (Rogers’ best friend and later Captain America’s sidekick, Bucky Barnes), or Tommy Lee Jones (Captain America’s commanding officer, Col. Chester Phillips). They adapt well to the time period and look seamless to the era. Visual tricks come into play with Hugo Weaving, whose Red Skull looks like something out of the Star Wars canon but this is probably the best The Red Skull will look on the big screen.
Chris Evans, much like Robert Downey Jr. & Chris Hemsworth in their respective MCU roles, seems born to play the part. He brings an all-American charm to the role and you buy him as a hero with values. I’ll go into this when reviewing his next appearances but I’d argue that Evans has shown the most growth out of all of the MCU heroes. He brings depth and layers everytime he plays the role and he shows that promise early on in this film.
The supporting roles fare better than they have in other MCU titles as well. Tommy Lee Jones takes the best aspects of his crusty personality and applies them to great effect in the role of Col. Chester Phillips & Hayley Atwell is solid as Agent Peggy Carter. She’s so solid in fact that it led to a short-lived, but highly enjoyable, series based on her character. Sebastian Stan, much like Evans displays an infectious heroic charm and it’s interesting to see his start here knowing what will become of the character down the line. The only supporting character that is a mixed bag is The Red Skull, played by Hugo Weaving. The actor is fine in the role but he can’t do much to escape his cliched trappings. The character comes across as a James Bond-type take-over-the-world megalomaniac and isn’t given a lot to do except exuding over-the-top nastiness.
Even though I have eased on the pacing issues, they are still a bit prevalent. Captain America falls into some of the familiar pitfalls of origin stories. So much time and effort are expended explaining how the protagonist gains his super-powers (and exploring his initial usage of them) that there’s not enough opportunity to develop a compelling storyline beyond his “baptism.” It takes a bit for the film to truly take off but when it does, it becomes more satisfying than its first half.
Although most of Captain America transpires in the 1940s, it is bookended by modern-day scenes that serve the purpose of setting up The Avengers. This was the last standalone film before the big team up and, thankfully, the scenes used to set this up, don’t feel forced into the film. I have friends that think Captain America may be the worst offender of this and feel the whole purpose of telling Captain America’s origin story is so that when he appeared in The Avengers, he would have a background. I disagree with this sentiment. The story here stands on its own and the scenes that move him into the modern age to set up the next film, feel natural.
Captain America: The First Avenger works because it offers up a different aesthetic from other comic book films. It’s funny how times can change things for me after an initial viewing. Sometimes you see things you didn’t see before and find value in elements you largely missed. The film still could’ve used some work on its pacing but it has proved to be one of the MCU films that have continued to grow on me over the years.
