Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger, which unfolds primarily during the Second World War, follows 97-pound weakling Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as he’s transformed into the title character during an experimental procedure, with the movie subsequently detailing the Captain’s ongoing efforts at defeating a villainous figure known as the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving). It’s ultimately clear that Captain America: The First Avenger improves as it progresses, as the film, directed by Joe Johnston, suffers from an overlong and padded-out first half devoted primarily to Rogers’ less-than-engrossing pre-war exploits – with the movie’s watchable vibe perpetuated, for the most part, by the efforts of a strong supporting cast. There’s little doubt, then, that the film begins to demonstrably improve once Rogers undergoes his metamorphosis, with the effectiveness of that sequence paving the way for a second half that’s rife with unexpectedly captivating set pieces – including a finale that’s not quite as over-the-top as one might’ve anticipated (and feared). It doesn’t hurt, either, that scripters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely place an ongoing emphasis on the romance between Rogers and a British officer (Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter), with the palpable chemistry between the two ensuring that Captain America: The First Avenger boasts an emotional resonance that’s far from the norm with films of this ilk. Johnston’s old-fashioned modus operandi proves effective at carrying the proceedings through its few underwhelming stretches, and it’s finally clear that Captain America: The First Avenger remains a cut above its lackluster Marvel brethren for most of its running time (if only because it primarily resembles an actual movie more than it does a collection of special effects sequences).

*** out of ****