Mousey Movies - Captain America: The First Avenger

I do have standards and despite what you may think I do not declare every movie is Mousey.  First, I need to find a minimum of four hooks that tie into the Disney legacy.  So when I rewatched The Incredible Hulk, I could not find those four hooks and I declared it not Mousey.  Other movies that I have simply not enjoyed I refuse to declare Mousey out of spite.  For example I will not call Gnomeo and Juliet Mousey, despite the role of Elton John and a Kermit t-shirt on a clothesline because I did not enjoy it.  I do have standards!  Despite that I really want Captain America: The First Avenger to be Mousey.  It is the last offering from the Marvel Cinematic Universe before The Avengers with the post-credit scene likely running straight into the 2012 blockbuster. 

Now a friend, let us call him Universal Urgings or Harry Hangover, and I discussed the possibility via email.  And he thought my reasoning was weak!  Honestly, he may be right.  I truthfully cannot use links to the other Marvel films to declare the movie Mousey.  And though it also has Stan Lee in a cameo, that really does not count for declaring a movie Mousey.  Sadly, there is no Agent Coulson, unless you count the bonus features or the trailer immediately after the post credit scene.  So I had to get creative.  You be the judge, was I too hasty in declaring Captain America: The First Avenger Mousey?:    

·     Driven to Serve:  Puny Steve Rogers is driven to serve. He wants to do his fair share in the war effort against the Axis powers in World War II.  But he is disqualified over and over again because he is too sickly, too small, too weak.  In order to overcome these obstacles he agrees to become a super solider, undergoing a treatment that gives him strength and speed.  He uses these super abilities as Captain America to thwart Germany’s foremost scientific organization, Hydra, and its leader the Red Skull. 

There is a real life parallel with Walt Disney.  During World War I, Disney also wanted to serve and do his fair share in the war in Europe.  His older brother Roy O. Disney was serving in the Navy and Walt thought he should be carrying part of the burden of the war effort.  At age 16 he dropped out of school and tried to join the Army.  He was rejected for being too young.  But like Rogers, Disney found a way to overcome his obstacles to service.  He joined the Red Cross and drove an ambulance in France.  Unlike Rogers, Disney’s service was all in peace time.  He did not begin his year in the Red Cross until after the November 11, 1918, armistice.            

·     Are You Mad:  Sebastian Stan plays Steve Rogers best friend and companion in arms Sergeant James Bucky Barnes.  Barnes prepared for his role by studying hours of World War II films and documentaries.  This leads me to ask, how does one prepare to be the Mad Hatter  Stan steals an entire episode of ABC’s Once Upon a Time as this iconic Disney character.  It is nice to be reminded that some worlds, including ours, need magic!  

·     Rockets Away:  Director Joe Johnston clearly knows two things.  First, he has been successful with films set during World War II.  Second, he has a proven track record with using fantastic scientific devices as a plot device.  Third, what wait three, he knows how to direct his bad guys as German baddies.  Johnston not only was successful with this formula in Captain America: The First Avenger but also in the cult classic The Rocketeer. 

·     Ohana: The movie is scored by prolific composer Alan Silvestri.  Silverstri’s past Disney credits include but are not limited to Lilo and Stitch, Flight of the Navigator, and The Parent Trap (Lindsey Lohan version).  Silvestri was nominated for a Grammy for a Disney offering, 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit.  

Well, did I pull it off?  Do you agree this is a Mousey Movie?  It sure does smell like it to me!  Take that Potter Pal, you have been defeated.  And good will carry the day as we await the release of Disney and Marvel’s The Avengers.