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| Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) |
Something to address right off the bat is that it's very easy to dismiss this film as being 'nothing special'. It's not a particularly ground-breaking film (with one notable exception), it doesn't have a particularly complex story, its villain is somewhat one-note, it's not especially funny (though it does have its moments of good comedy) you could even make the case that its main character is a little bland, though that wouldn't be my argument at all. What's important to consider, however, is that this movie does something that future MCU films would do a lot: it adds in another genre. It's a superhero film, but it's also a war movie, and this concept of blending one genre with another is genius for a franchise like the MCU where, otherwise, every movie would be incredibly similar to each other. Future MCU movies will also double as heist films, spy thrillers, space operas, high school dramas, flat-out comedies, and that kind of diversity all began with this film. And I'd argue that if this film didn't so such a great job of merging the two genres so flawlessly, this pattern might not have continued. It seems like such a seamless blend that I'm surprised more movies haven't tried this. The two genres and their tropes go hand in hand with one another, and this is the biggest secret to this film's success. You can recognise the tropes from either side, and notice how they mix together in such a satisfying way. It doesn't feel like two different movies, and that's really impressive. I will say that this film tends to drag at times, and I feel like a rewrite or two could have done so much more for a story like this, just to pick up the pace a little bit and keep everyone invested right through to the end.
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| Chris Evans as Captain America |
I mentioned in the above paragraph that you could make the case that Steve Rogers himself isn't particularly interesting as a character, and I can see how one might come to that assertion. He's not as flawed as Tony Stark, doesn't have the complex backstory of Bruce Banner and doesn't have powers as flashy as Thor. In a vacuum, this kind of character really shouldn't have as much focus. Note the phrase 'in a vacuum', as what sets Rogers apart is his moral compass and sense of righteousness. I'd honestly argue he's the best hero of any of the Phase 1 Avengers, as his need to do good doesn't stem from learning an important lesson down the line, it was just always within him, and it took the Super Soldier Serem to actualise it. Also, when you have a character like Steve Rogers, what's interesting isn't so much what motivates him, but it's watching him get tested. Watching him get pushed further and further and seeing how far he'll go and if and when his values will truly be compromised. WWII is the perfect setting for this kind of story and character, and while Steve doesn't get pushed quite as far as perhaps I'd like, there are hints of it here and there, it happens just enough to hint that this is how the character will be treated in his future appearances. Also, watching him in action is just f***ing entertaining. I love watching this guy lay out Nazis in one punch, I love watching him run faster than cars, and whenever he uses his shield, it's just so goddamn satisfying.
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| Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter |
Chris Evans was the perfect choice to bring this character to life. He was entertaining as The Human Torch (the most entertaining part of those films, at least), and now he gets a second chance as Captain America and he does not waste it. He is so likeable in this role, and he does a fantastic job of getting the audience on his side. He also has amazing chemistry with Hayley Atwell, and Peggy Carter is just a great character in general. She's really everything I want in a superhero love interest: she's involved in the action, she's independent, she's a great match for Steve and she's incredibly relateable to the audience. The rest of the cast do their jobs well enough. Sebastian Stan is likeable as Bucky, Tommy Lee Jones plays a great general, Dominic Cooper as fantastic as Howard Stark, and having him in this story in general is a fantastic way of contextualising the story within the established MCU. Even though we haven't spent a lot of time with Howard up to this point, having that through-line to Tony is a great way of giving us a little glimpse into why he became who he is. The cast also consists of a bunch of my favourite actors in minor roles. David Bradley and Jenna Coleman spring to mind, as does Toby Jones, and while I'm still annoyed that he specifically didn't get more to work with, he's fine for the role he was given.
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| Toby Jones as Arnim Zola |
Moving back to the main cast, Stanley Tucci is fantastic as the mentor figure, and I love the balance they find with this character. Scientist, joker, father figure, even a little eccentric at times, and the film touches on his backstory just enough that it really pays off by the end. Hugo Weaving also plays a great Red Skull, and I'm especially impressed with the way they brought the character to life visually. Like with Steve Rogers, you can make the case that Red Skull isn't very fleshed out and his motivations are merely 'world domination' to put it broadly. While I agree with that sentiment, and he's not my favourite MCU villain by a long shot, he works well enough for this story simply because it is also a war film and you're sort of allowed to have by-the-numbers villains in a war movie, especially when the war in question is WWII. Lastly, and I don't really have a segue into this, but let me just touch on that one thing I said was ground-breaking about this movie: the way they brought scrawny Steve Rogers to life. I have no idea how they pulled this off and, to be honest, I really don't want to know. Tiny Chris Evans looks impeccable, and it rarely looks awkward or unrealistic. The film actually spends longer with this version of Steve Rogers than I thought it would and, if anything, this just makes the eventual transformation pay off so much more. In fact, that's the key term here: pay off. It's a little standard and it can drag in places, but it's immensely satisfying by the end.
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| Hugo Weaving as Red Skull |
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) is, appropriately, a little more than the sum of its parts. It has its issues, certainly, but it's a movie that knows what it wants to do and does it very well. 8.5/10
Next: Phase 1 closes with The Avengers.
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