In the midst of the World War Two, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) has one thing in his mind: defending his country. The only problem is this frail, scrawny kid from Brooklyn isn't what Uncle Sam is looking for.
However, what Rogers lacks in physical prowess he makes up for in courage and morals. These All-American qualities alert senior scientists, who give him the fighting chance he was hoping for. Using top secret cutting-edge methods, the fragile boy is transformed into a rippling super soldier.
Under the moniker Captain America, the newly created superhero must first persuade US top brass that he isn't just a propaganda gimmick. When the evil Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) unleashes his deadly futuristic weapons against the Allied forces, it falls to the hulking, spandex-clad Rogers to save the day.
Riding on the crest of a wave of comic book remakes, Captain America: The First Avenger has ensured it doesn't get caught up too much in gritty realism and backstory. Remaining true to its comic roots, the good guys are hearty and passionate, the bad guys are nasal and conniving and the movie is a surprisingly exciting dash through one of the grimmest periods of history.
Evans is seemingly working his way through the Marvel back catalogue, after a mixed performance as Johnny Storm in the recent Fantastic Four movies.
Rest assured, this feature is a vast improvement on those, and whets the appetite for the upcoming The Avengers Assemble.
Captain America: The First Avenger is a Film programme that first aired in 2011 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
