Captain America: Civil War has marched onto screens with scores of critics and audiences hailing it as Marvel’s greatest movie to date. Yet there’s a nagging uncertainty underpinning the love: many claim that our title character remains the least interesting aspect of his own movies, and indeed the least interesting character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe overall.
It’s therefore time to put the record straight and explain why ol’ Cappy’s enduring underdog spirit makes him much more than just a boring star-spangled super-soldier.
1. He genuinely came from nothing
Think of your favourite heroes within the MCU. Whether it’s Thor born into his illustrious Asgardian lineage, Bruce Banner with his scientific mind or Tony Stark with his untold wealth, most of the franchise’s flashier characters already had their path set to an extent.
Not so with Steve Rogers. Cast your mind back to Joe Johnston’s terrific The First Avenger with its lavishly pulpy World War II setting: Steve was a weedy little guy with asthma (beefy actor Chris Evans’ head niftily grafted onto a scrawny body double) who was turned away from enlisting multiple times.
He had absolutely nothing going for him apart from a patriotic love of country – no money, no special abilities, nothing at all. He was a proper underdog, and when we started to root for him it was genuine.
