Slam-bam crackerjack origin story of the classic Marvel Comics' patriotic hero!

Rating: Null/10 (25 July 2011)

CAPTAIN America: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011) *** ½ Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke, Ken Choi. Slam-bam crackerjack origin story of the classic Marvel Comics' titular patriotic hero (with an amiable Evans) AKA Steve Rogers, a 98 lb. scrawny kid from Brooklyn trying to do his gung-ho best for America during WWII, finding himself transformed into a pec-laden super soldier and facing the nefarious Nazi villain Johann Schmidt – AKA The Red Skull(a fierce steely-eyed Weaving) – hell bent on world domination. Along for the ride are the estimable Tucci as the German émigré scientist Erskine whose top-secret serum gives the hero his juice; Jones as crusty as ever as the taciturn Colonel Phillips and comely aide de camp Peggy Carter (the luscious Atwell), all provide fine ensemble work. Credit yeoman director Joe Johnston to let Christopher Markus' & Stephen McFeeley's adaption fly freely with a peppering of humor and pathos, great rousing score by veteran composter Alan Silvestri; ace sepia toned cinematography by Shelly Johnson, evoking the era perfectly; expert production design by Rick Heinrichs and great costumes by Anna B. Sheppard. The 3-D is pretty nifty w/Cap's trusty shield thrown your way for good measure; Saturday matinée vibe only adds to the movie magic.