Captain America review scores are split down the middle so far. For that matter, so are the reviews for the movie's tone and main character himself. There's no doubt Captain America is different from other superheroes, and not just because he started as a weakling and first fought in WWII. Yet when he was created his uber-patriotic, uber-optimistic attitude wasn't out of place -- although it might be in this era of dark and troubled caped crusaders.
Thanks in part to Christopher Nolan's Batman reboots, having a superhero who is brooding, complex, and almost as dark as his enemies is a requirement these days. In fact, the trend has become so pervasive that even Spider-Man is getting in on it, at least judging by the first trailer for his reboot.
Not everyone was happy to see Spider-Man getting darker in his debut teaser. But in a paradox, not everyone is happy Captain America isn't darker, judging by the buzz. Originally there was concern that Cap would be too patriotic and pro-America to make it big in the rest of the world. But leaving patriotism and feelings about modern-day America out, is the character just too perfect and upright to make it big?
Having a superhero who isn't troubled or conflicted might be retro enough to work for some fans, or at least those who are tired of brooding Batman knockoffs. But it may be different for others: Variety called the movie "red, white and bland," while the Miami Herald's Rene Rodriguez complained that Cap "remains a bit of a stiff." However, the Associated Press' Christy Lemire argues "there's something appealing about an old-fashioned approach."
This year's other superhero movies haven't been humorless, as Thor, X-Men: First Class and Green Lantern were hardly drenched in darkness. Yet Thor wasn't exactly heroic at first, and one of X-Men's main characters eventually became a super villain. But critics attacked Green Lantern for being too lightweight, although there were many other complaints about that movie.
Perhaps not being dark and complex isn't a deal breaker, since reviews for Captain America are at least split, whereas Green Lantern was entirely panned. And it's not like darkness has worked for every superhero movie: Watchmen got mixed results despite being based on one of the bleakest and most popular graphic novels ever.
Many a review will still attack this film for being too light and having a hero who's too good to be true. But if that holds Captain America back here, it might be a different story when he joins the rest of The Avengers next summer. Even if a character like him can't carry his own movie these days, perhaps he will work better as a supporting counterbalance to the likes of Iron Man and Thor.
Sources
Rotten Tomatoes- "Captain America: The First Avenger"
Variety- "Captain America: The First Avenger"
Miami Herald- "Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13)"
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