For the first half, this Marvel superhero movie feels like something a little fresher and different from its brethren. It’s got the same snappy, fast-paced feel of the other Marvel entries but it’s refreshingly distinguished by its 1940s setting. The more it goes on, however, it starts to feel like a generic entry no better or worse than 2008’s good-not-great “The Incredible Hulk.” Like “Hulk,” it’s got a weak villain – here it’s Hugo Weaving, who spends half his time sniveling his lines while under largely underwhelming makeup design, and in the process robs the movie of any momentum. Luckily, Chris Evans is extraordinarily well-cast in the title role, bringing an all-American charm backed up by solid acting chops that make the movie go by a little faster. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s that in just rather ho-hum, which is disappointing for a movie universe so grand.
Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)
