Steve Rogers (Evans) is a short, skinny guy with a history of health problems, but an abundance of determination. He is determined to find a way to join the military, despite many rejections. He makes one last ditch effort, and is met by Dr. Abraham Erskine (Tucci), who offers Steve the opportunity to join an elite military team. The men on the team are the best of the best, undergoing intensive training by Colonel Chester Phillips (Jones), to compete for a top prize.
Despite being the smallest man on the team, Steve continues to impress Erskine, while Colonel Phillips has doubts. In the end, Steve is chosen when he is the only person to pass the final test. Steve is injected with special serum, to make him the ultimate soldier. The project is a success, but the lab is destroyed and Dr. Erskine is murdered. Can Steve's new alter-ego Captain America save the day, or will he be forced to spend his days being a symbol?
The fifth film in the Marvel Studios cannon, this film had a lot to live up to: it needed to be at the same level as the previous 4 films (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, and Thor), while psyching the audience up for 2012's Avengers. Thankfully, this film manages to do both. It is an entertaining action film, that works with the Captain America comics, while still introducing the character to a larger audience. The Captain is updated, instead of just serving as a symbol for America, he is a guy trying to do the right thing... making him more accessible to a mass audience. The story also serves to setup the next film, and explain how the Captain can appear, essentially unchanged, in that film.
At first I was a little concerned about Chris Evans portraying this character. I have nothing against the man, but he previously portrayed another superhero: Johnny Storm / Human Torch in the Fantastic 4 films (original and Rise of the Silver Surfer). But now that I have seen the film, I can't imagine any other actor in this role. Good call casting people! Hugo Weaving was an excellent choice to play the Red Skull... he just does menacing so well. And Dominic Cooper was a welcome addition as Tony Stark / Iron Man's father Howard. We first saw this character in Iron Man 2 (portrayed by John Slattery), but it was interesting to see him as a young man.
I'm intrigued to see where TPTB take this character in The Avengers and subsequent Marvel Studios films.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) 124 minutes
Director: Joe Johnston
Starring: Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt / Red Skull
Sebastian Stan as Sergeant James "Bucky" Barnes
Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Chester Phillips
Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark
Stanley Tucci as Dr. Abraham Erskine
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