An Okay Action/Love Story

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2011)

The newest release of the Marvel Comic productions is "Captain America" which opens with Steve's (Chris Evans) desperate attempts to enlist in the American army during WWII despite the fact that he is under weight, abused by bullies, and struggles with physical activity. What he lacks in physique, he makes up for with heart and compassion that inspires Dr. Abraham Erskine played by Stanley Tucci (to transform Steve into a super soldier using advance secret technology. All of this effort is intended on defeating not only Hitler's Nazi regime, but also the evil Johann Smidth (Hugo Weaving) who has his own agenda for defeating the Allied Powers.
The acting is phenomenal throughout the movie. Then again, with Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones supporting as Steve's commanding officer, this is to be expected. He initially disagrees with Erskine's recommendation for Steve's transformation and states, "When you brought a 90 pound asthmatic to my army base, I let it slide. I thought what the hell, maybe he'll be useful to you like a gerbil." This doesn't deter Erskine who knows that whichever soldier is to be transformed must maintain the highest quality of character. Apparently, the transformation process heightens whatever is within regardless of how noble or evil it is which explains Smidth's wickedness.
Following his transformation, Steve has a few heroic moments and is assigned to sell war bonds in a chorus line of dancing women until his courage leads him down another path. As a super soldier motivated by attitudes of bullies that he loathed, Steve is commonly reminded that he doesn't want to kill anyone but despises bullies. Although Captain America is an avenger from the Marvel Comic series, his character is far more "ordinary" compared to the league of extraordinary super heroes that he is a part of. The Xmen originated during this time as well but all possessed the coolest powers to combat the Nazi powers. In comparison, Captain America's origin story is kind of bland and attempts to make up for it with explosive combat scenes.
On the other hand, the romance between Steve and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) is both charming and sassy. Carter plays a fiery intelligence officer who admires Steve in her own way from the beginning yet tastefully masks her true feelings behind her professional relationship with Steve. The two are irresistible.
I enjoyed Captain America but I must say that my expectations may have been a little too high considering that this is yet another Marvel Comic release. "Captain America rates 6 out of 10.