Ronita Torcato

A MARVEL(LOUS) MAN
 
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Starring:Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci,Tommy Lee Jones,
Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan,Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Richard Armitage,   
Samuel L Jackson 
Director: Joe Johnston

As the wannabe soldier Steve Rogers, in Capt America: The First
Avenger, the fifth live-action adaptation of Marvel's World War 2
Superhero, Chris Evans is endearing; as the titular character, he is sizzling!
If Jekyll and Hyde mirrors the  good and bad in
human nature, Capt America is a study of good and better. Steve Rogers is  goodness and self-sacrificing valour personified even as he lacks the physical requirements to enlist in the army. Then, the  life of this dejected  reject takes a  turn for the better when he is recruited by  a German emigre scientist Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci, terrific) for the US government's
Strategic Science Regiment (SSR), a top secret research project envisaging the  creation of battalions of  super soldiers.
Dr Erskine is  the polar opposite of the Indian guru Dronacharya who demands the thumb of  a brilliant tribal archer. Dr Erskine sees seeds of greatness in the skinny boy from Brooklyn, and disregards SRR boss Colonel  Chester (Tommy Lee Jones ) Phillips  to choose Steve for the experiment which will transform him into the muscled powerhouse that defends American ideals of  life, liberty ( and the pursuit of happiness)
 
Before he takes his place in the pantheon of superheroes,  Capt America has to suffer marketeers of patriotism who reduce him to a  mascot  selling war bonds. But once he parachutes into the war arena,  to fight the good fight against bullies whom he doesn't  like, "and I don't care where they're from") the film  proceeds with high jinks and  derring do  to elaborate on themes of patriotism and justice.

As his invincible alter-ego, Steve is helped by  James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and the no-nonsense Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) in the battle against Hitler's "deep science division," HYDRA which is headed by the
diabolical Johann Schmidt /Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) who is in cahoots  with warped scientist Arnim Zola (Toby Jones). Schmidt , as the viewer learns before long, is a rogue Nazi filled with such delusions of grandeur, even Hitler had better watch out!

 Historical references apart, the film also alludes to movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark ( viz. the Nazi belief in myth ) .
Like Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Evans fits the role of Captain America like a glove;  a role he is reprising in the upcoming sequel (which boasts a fantastic star cast). Like Marilyn Monroe ( am unable to think right away of a male counterpart) Evans oozes that rare combination of innocence and sexual appeal. (with some actors it's either /or)
The rest of the cast impresses especially Tucci and TommyLee, as does  Joe Johnston & writers, who, plot hobblers notwithstanding, combines a sci fi  and war  story with  wry humour and the briefest of romances.