‘Captain America’ arrives; cue the fireworks

In the summer of the comic-book movie, where Green Lantern disappointed and Thor impressed, Captain America: The First Avenger finds itself at the head of the pack. The film, starring Chris Evans as the patriotic superhero, balances an engaging storyline with stunning visuals to make a thrilling movie-going experience.

Evans is likable as Steve Rogers, a wannabe soldier who can’t convince recruiting officers to look past his skinny frame, short height and asthma problems (obvious CGI is used to de-muscle Evans). Time and time again, Rogers is denied entry and told to sit at home while his friends fight the Nazis overseas.

It’s a shame Rogers is denied, because from his early scenes in the film, it’s obvious that he’s a good guy who wants to fight for all the right reasons.

When all looks lost, Rogers finds himself attracting the interest of Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), a German doctor who has developed an unbelievable technology for the Americans. With the help of Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper), Erskine is able to change Rogers and his pitiful looks into a mega-soldier with unbelievable speed, agility and strength. He is the future, a man that turns meager attributes into superhuman features.

The transformation of Rogers puts a smile on the faces of Col. Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), a ravishing British woman who takes a keen interest in this newly created soldier.

Rogers, Phillips and Carter have a formidable enemy in Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) who harnesses the power of a mysterious cube for world domination (note: to fans of Thor, the cube won’t be that mysterious). Although Schmidt initially works with the blessing of Adolf Hitler, he eventually breaks off from the dictator when he realizes his research doctor, Arnim Zola (Toby Jones), has developed an energy that can wipe out everything and everyone.

Much of Captain America: The First Avenger is preparation for next year’s big summer movie, The Avengers. The audience receives a great deal of backstory and exposition, but unlike Green Lantern, Captain America is never bogged down by its origin tale. The transformation of Rogers into the flag-wearing hero feels natural and is always sprinkled with enthralling action sequences.

Evans does his best with a difficult part. Because Captain America is a tool of the American military, the character can feel wooden and never independent from the forces that control him. The actor’s best work is found in the earlier scenes, when he’s skinny Rogers and simply hoping to join the boys heading over to fight in World War II.

Weaving proves to be a menacing villain, and the makeup job when he ultimately turns into Red Skull is a highlight of the film.

Jones also fares well with his cliché, yet always interesting, military role. Atwell actually finds a character behind Peggy Carter, which is certainly welcoming, being that most superhero movies forget to make the requisite female lead interesting.

I also enjoyed Tucci and Jones as competing mad scientists with different agendas.

The visual effects are stellar, mostly because director Joe Johnston doesn’t let them get out of hand. Captain America, unlike many other superhero tales, is grounded in history. The plot and characters may be fictional, but the role is modeled after the events of the 20th century. A successful Captain America franchise should realize that the output needs to feel as much like a war movie as it does a superhero movie.

The film’s look is spot-on, especially the scenes in historical Brooklyn. The sets and accompanying CGI create a realistic portrait of a young man with larger ambitions.

Captain America: The First Avenger is not perfect. The few montages in the film feel like needless fast forwards of crucial plot elements (the one where Rogers becomes a money-making patsy for the U.S. military is especially misplaced), and the script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely has a few corny one-liners.

But, for the most part, the movie is a fitting tribute to a great comic-book hero. The Avengers is now all set up. Full steam ahead.

Note: Stay until the end of the credits. You won’t be disappointed.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Captain America: The First Avenger

• 2011

• Directed by Joe Johnston

• Written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, based on the Marvel comic book created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby

• Starring Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones and Dominic Cooper

• Running time: 125 minutes

• Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action

• Rating:

• Click here to purchase Captain America: The First Avenger on DVD.