Mario’s Musings (Anniversary Edition): Captain America: The First Avenger
The 90s feel like five years ago to someone like me. There are so many events over the course of the 2000s and 2010s that I remember like they were yesterday. So when you tell me that a movie like the first Captain America is turning ten years old, it blows my mind.
This was a movie many weren’t sure would even work in the somewhat divisive times of the early 2010s. Being overly pro-American was considered passé, especially post-Iraq War, Freedom Fries, and burning Dixie Chicks’ CDs. So a movie about a superhero literally named Captain America seemed doom to fail. And yet, Chris Evans brought a level of heart, heroism, and charm to the role that many didn’t think was even possible. Evans almost didn’t even get the part, as he was the second choice behind John Krasinki of the Office and Jack Ryan fame. Once Krasinki dropped out, Evans, whose fame at the time was thanks to the Fantastic Four movies, was cast as the role, but many weren’t exactly happy with the choice. At the time, Evans was known more for his wisecracking nature as Johnny Storm than he what he would become as Captain America. That made many think it was too soon to cast Captain America as someone who had already played another superhero within the past few years.
That said, once people saw his performance as Steve Rogers, people were sold and Chris Evans’ multiple performances could be placed on the level of Christopher Reeve’s as Superman. I sure think so anyways.
The story of Captain America is simple; Steve Rogers is a young sickly kid from Brooklyn who despite his illnesses, wants to serve his country, and constantly tries to enlist. Despite multiple rejections and his best friend Bucky Barnes telling him to enjoy life instead, Steve tries one more time and catches the attention of one Doctor Abraham Erskine. Fleeing Germany due to the rise of Nazism, Erskine tells Steve of his super soldier serum, only once tested on Nazi scientist Johann Shmidt, who became hideously disfigured after testing it on himself and becoming the Red Skull. After Steve shows great courage during training, he is picked to receive the serum, and becomes the first American super soldier. Unfortunately, a Nazi agent infiltrates the testing site and assassinates Erskine, so Steve is now the ONLY super soldier.
What follows is Steve being forced to become a bond selling machine rather than a Nazi fighting machine, because as the only super soldier, General Chester Phillips didn’t want to risk Steve if there was a chance scientists could learn something from Steve’s body. What follows is one of the funniest scenes in Marvel history:
Unfortunately, after that montage, the movie seems to be nothing but action montages. That said, it’s a nice set up for the Avengers movie that would release the next year, and more Captain America movies that would follow after that. Directed by Joe Johnston, the movie would have a Rocketeer like feel to it, and Alan Silvestri’s score only adds to it. Every actor and actress in the movie gives off a performance as if it’s a movie from that time period, which is actually endearing when it comes to the love story between Steve and Peggy (they share literally one kiss). Tommy Lee Jones’ General Phillips is his usual grumpy self, Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter is a gem and should be getting more roles in bigger movies, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky’s chemistry with Chris Evans makes you really think they’re best friends.
Give this movie a watch.
