In the present day, scientists in the Arctic uncover a circular object with a red, white and blue motif.
In March 1942, Nazi officer Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) and his men invade Tønsberg, Norway, to steal a mysterious tesseract possessing untold powers.
At the same time in New York City, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is rejected by the military to join in the World War II fight due to various health and physical issues. While attending an exhibition of future technologies with his friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Rogers again attempts to sign up.
Having overheard Rogers' conversation with Barnes about wanting to help in the war, Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) allows Rogers to enlist. Rogers is recruited as part of a "super-soldier" experiment program under Erskine, Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Phillips is unconvinced of Erskine's claims that Rogers is the right person for the procedure but relents after seeing Rogers commit an act of self-sacrificing bravery. The night before the treatment, Erskine reveals to Rogers that Schmidt underwent an imperfect version of the treatment, and suffered side-effects.
In Europe, Schmidt and Dr. Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) successfully harness the energies of the tesseract, intending to use the power to fuel Zola's inventions. Schmidt discoverers Erskine's location, and dispatches an undercover assassin to kill him.
In America, Erskine subjects Rogers to the super-soldier treatment, injecting him with a special serum and dosing him with "vita-rays". After Rogers emerges from the experiment taller and muscular, one of the attendees kills Erskine, revealing himself as Schmidt's assassin Heinz Kruger (Richard Armitage). Rogers pursues and captures Kruger but the assassin commits suicide via cyanide capsule before he can be interrogated.
With Erskine's death the super-soldier formula is lost. U.S. Senator Brandt (Michael Brandon) has Rogers tour the nation in a colorful costume as "Captain America" to promote war bonds rather than be confined to a lab while scientists attempt to rediscover Erskine's formula. In Italy 1943, while touring to active servicemen, Rogers learns that his pal Barnes' unit was lost in battle against Schmidt's forces.
Refusing to believe Barnes is dead, Rogers mounts a solo rescue attempt with Carter and Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper father of Iron Man) flying him behind enemy lines. Rogers infiltrates the fortress belonging to Schmidt's HYDRA organization, freeing Barnes and the other captured soldiers. Rogers confronts Schmidt who reveals his face to be a mask, removing it to display the red-colored, skull-like face that earned him the sobriquet the Red Skull. Schmidt escapes and Rogers returns to base with the freed soldiers--among them Barnes, Dum Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough) Gabe Jones (Derek Luke), Jim Morita (Kenneth Choi), James Montgomery Falsworth (JJ Feild), and Jacques Dernier (Bruno Ricci) whom Rogers enlists to help attack the other Hydra bases...
Director Joe Johnston redeems himself nicely here, after the "wet dog smell" left behind by misguided remake of The Wolfman. He and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely captured the orginal intent of the character--leaving the patriotic core intact while not making it come off too campy--The film also does a great taking you back to that wartime era. The powers that be could have made Cap's first big screen adventure go on from finding him in the ice....I am so glad they took the time to show the complete story rather than do it in some quickie flashback sequence. Bravo! It is gonna make his adjustment to the 21st century all the more realistic in The Avengers and beyond
There's plenty of action to keep any fanboy happy which is very well executed I would also add here that for once the CG that enhanced the look of Evans as Skinny Rogers looked better than it has to de-age or modify any other on screen character before.
The casting of Evans as Cap is what truly makes the film soar. When he makes the case to Barnes about wanting to fight for his country you believe it's sincere. I would equate Evans performance with that of Christopher Reeve in Superman. Yes I would. Just as Reeve uttered the line "I'm here to fight for truth justice and the American way" without missing a beat so does Evans---staying true to character and not apologizing for it. Evans was really good playing the cocky Human Torch in both 2005's Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer but as the lead hero here he's even better.
It helps of course that the supporting cast shines as well. Atwell is one tough dame as Peggy but also has great spark in scenes opposite Rogers helping sell a soft side. Jones is perfect as the General. Cooper's Stark takes a page from Robert Downey Jr. in his portrayal to hint that the apple don't fall very far. Weaving is a GREAT Red Skull My only wish is that he had a bit more screen tine...Hello deleted scenes...Stan has good chemistry with Evans I hope they find a way to explore that aspect moving forward--And Simply put Tucci can do no wrong no matter the part...
Captain America is a fine topper to 2011's superheroes of Summer and comes highly recommended.
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