Marvel Cinematic Universe: Ranking all 18 movies after Black Panther
By Mike McNulty
Credit: Marvel Studios/Paramount Pictures; poster for Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
10. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
In many respects, Captain America: The First Avenger is the spiritual sequel to director Joe Johnson’s other wartime superhero movie, The Rocketeer (1991). Like that earlier movie, Captain America is unapologetically old-fashioned, reminiscent of the serials during the period in which it’s set. Nor does it shy away in depicting Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as a humble boy scout; if anything, the film makes a compelling case for why these are admirable traits for a hero to have.
What’s ironic is, just like how others treat the titular star-spangled soldier in the film, audiences underestimated Chris Evans prior to the film’s release. After all, having the same actor who played Johnny Storm from the awful Fantastic Four movies seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. Yet like Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man, Evans proved an inspired choice, perfectly embodying Steve’s courage, common sense, and “ah shucks” humility.
The rest of the cast does decent work, as well. Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter shares remarkable and believable chemistry and spitfire with Evans. Tommy Lee Jones also turns in a capable job as the skeptical Colonel Phillips. It’s Stanley Tucci as Dr. Abraham Erskine, though, who gives what is perhaps the film’s best performance. The scene between him and Evans the night before Steve undergoes his transformation is arguably the heart and soul of the film.
It can also get a little cheesy at times, especially when it comes to Hugo Weaving’s over-the-top, scenery-chewing turn as the Red Skull. At the other end of the spectrum, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Toby Jones as Armin Zola, and Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark feel underused. Nevertheless, while it’s not in the same caliber as other contemporary World War II films, Captain America: The First Avenger works not just as homage to Golden Age comics but the Golden age of classic Hollywood.