A Bunch of Tools Are Up for “Captain America”

Filed Under Movies

The first question Marvel Studios should be asking themselves in casting “Captain America” isn’t, “Does this guy look the part?” but “Can he hold the screen with Robert Downey Jr.?” Judging from the list of interchangeable pretty boys who are up for the role, Marvel’s clearly looking to put a relative unknown into the costume with the acting chops of your average CW thesp. Yawn. I was hoping they’d nab Jeremy Renner for Cap. The guy’s got to be stoic, flinty, and a little out of touch with the world around him. He’s also got to believably lead the Avengers into battle and not have a more charismatic actor eat his lunch in every scene.

Now granted, Johnny Depp was on “21 Jump Street” early in his career, so leaping the chasm from syndicated teen soap to mega-stardom isn’t completely out of the question. But it is rare. And Marvel Studios can ill afford a movie that flops because its universe is so intertwined. Casting a dumb bohunk as Cap will not only preclude further installments of their “Captain America” film franchise, but it’ll also put the “Avengers” crossover film in jeopardy. Blank slate Brandon Routh was one of the many problems with “Superman Returns.” As such, the movie failed to ignite a new franchise.

I’ve had my doubts about “First Avenger: Captain America” from the start. I mean, it’s called “First Avenger: Captain America.” What a shit title. Is there something wrong with just calling it “Captain America?” What’s more, Joe Johnston’s directing. Johnston’s not much of a director, all things considered. Fanboys hail “The Rocketeer” as a pulpy good time. It’s enjoyable, I guess. It also bombed during its brief theatrical run nearly two decades ago. Johnston’s latest film, however, is the sucktacular “Wolfman,” which spent ages in post-production because it was a dog.

I held out hope that the casting might convince me this film isn’t going to be a total fiasco. Now I’m pretty certain I’ll find something wrong with about everything related to the movie. Thing is, I like Captain America as a character and would love to see a fun, jingoistic comic book war picture with the Star-Spangled Avenger kicking all manner of Nazi ass. But I’m concerned that Marvel’s going to drop the ball on this and that the success of “Iron Man” was just a happy accident.

-Brad Lohan

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