Captain America has always been too nice for his own good – one of the more boring characters in the Marvel cannon. But in "Captain America: The First Avenger," the squeaky-clean superhero proves that nice guys don't always finish last.

Actor Chris Evans, 30, and director Joe Johnston, 61, save the flag-waving Captain America from his classic bland roots.

Captain America isn't the hippest of Hollywood superheroes. Clever banter doesn't roll off his lips like Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man. He's no cocksure warrior like Chris Hemsworth's, "Thor."

Yet, there's something emotionally appealing about a 98-pound weakling who longs to join the army and fight for his country.

That's how this origin story begins during the Second World War.

Time after time puny Brooklynite Steve Rogers (Evans) shows up at recruiting stations and is turned down.

His determination catches the eye of Abraham Erskine, a scruffy German-American scientist played Stanley Tucci. Erskine has been developing top-secret weapons for America's war effort. He creates a serum that can give the U.S. Army an endless supply of super-human soldiers, and picks Steve to be his first test-subject.

Up until this moment, Evans' head is digitally plastered onto a short, skinny young man. The army doesn't want him. Women ignore him. His best friend fights Steve's battles for him.

Depressing scenes like these touch the geek in all of us.

Once Steven is strapped into Erskine's machines and receives the serum, things change dramatically. Steven screams in pain from inside the machine, which sends scientists leaping for levers to stop the procedure.

"No! I can do this," Steve howls.

Erskine and his colleagues listen. They watch and wait.

When the machine doors open, Steve emerges with the body of an Olympian god.

Blessed with powers that would make "The Six Million Dollar Man" seem sickly, Steve can't wait to get to Germany and fight Nazis. The U.S. government has other plans.

Forced to wear a red, white and blue costume, Steve tours the country in a cheesy stage show to sell war bonds.

This glorified mascot shuts up and puts up. But in his heart Steve knows he's meant for bigger things.

Johnston's old-school throwback to World War II may be corny. But it works. "Captain America" is light and breezy.

The dastardly villain Red Skull, played by Hugo Weaving, curls the toes of any moviegoer.

The parallels between Red Skull and Steve are obvious, but that doesn't make them any less entertaining.

In one laboratory, Erskine creates Steve for the good of mankind. In another lab in Germany, the Red Skull tries to create the ultimate Nazi. We all know who's going to win this showdown. But it's still fun to watch.

"Captain America" also tips its hat with great aplomb to action picks like "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars." Every wink-filled tip adds to the fun.

Three stars out of four.