Ally Darling is a slut.  At least that’s what all the women’s magazines tell her, and everyone knows those magazines are nothing but truth in pulp paper form.  So Ally goes on a mission to track down her ex-bf’s, in the hopes that one of ‘em will serve as her One True Love…so she won’t have to amp up her number and become Superslut.  I say hey, if you’re gonna be a superhero, what better way.  And what better way to spend a few hours in the multiplex right now than with this fun little confection of a movie?  Baltimore-born Anna Faris does a great job of gettin’ low for the laughs, Captain America’s Chris Evans shows that he’s more than just a stud in latex, and the laughs and love are easy.  If you think your list of chick-flick movies is longer than the average list, don’t be afraid to add this one on.  No-one will judge you for that.  At least nobody worth knowing.

Based on Karen Bosnak’s novel “20 Times a Lady”, What’s Your Number points out the disparity between the sexes when it comes to sex.  Guys bang anything that moves and that makes ‘em a stud, women run out of fingers to count with when counting conquests and they’re not marriage material.  So after her younger sister’s engagement party, Ally decides that it’s no more sex, no more conquests, no more random hooking up.  Naturally, she boinks her boss that night (a hilariously creepy Joel McHale, in a role more Talk Soup than Community).  But her lothario neighbor Colin gets roped into helping her with the promise of Ally’s help with ditching the one-night-stands he constantly brings home.  Ally’s cute, Colin’s sexy, they’re both funny…and you can figure out the rest.  Thank goodness What’s Your Number has a refreshingly light touch with the romance, focusing on laughs and the awkwardness of tracking past lovers instead of the deep meaningful connection the leads share.  The chemistry between Faris and Evans is off the charts anyway, so gilding that lily would have had the movie ending up a clunker.

This movie wouldn’t work without the supporting characters, and the casting department did it’s homework here.  Besides Joel McHale, Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) plays an indifferent granola-guy, Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) plays now-gay Republican wannabe Tom, Reno 911’s Thomas Lennon plays gynecologist ex Barrett, and as a pièce de résistance, Andy Samberg has a cameo as Gerry Perry, the guy Ally loses her virginity to.  Seeing Faris and Samberg, two comedic actors that have no problem going anywhere for a laugh, get down and dirty is hilarous and cringeworthy.  Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters) plays Ally’s “one that got away”, and he nails the role of a guy that is just a bit too perfect.  Cute points for casting Faris’ real-life hubby Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) as ex “Disgusting Donald”, the guy that gets her started on her crazy adventure by being better now than he was then.

The usual chick-flick clichés run hot & heavy here, but they’re cute as all heck in the talented hands of director Mark Mylod (Entourage, the amazingly wonderful BBC rom-com series Cold Feet).  Ally and Colin meet cute, but can’t stand each other.  Ally has an amazing,  huge apartment smack-dab in the middle of Boston, something a marketing assistant would never be able to afford (though scenes with her family show that her parents are rich as hell, so there’s that.)  There are the requisite montages, the conflict after they finally realize they’re perfect for each other (and if I’m spoiling the movie for you by that tidbit this must be the very first romance you’ve ever thought about watching in your entire life), and the big chase scene at the end.  There are also lovely wedding vows, gorgeous Boston scenery, and a wacky ending that has real emotional depth.

Though What’s Your Number shows that all ends well after Ally’s ex-tracking binge, I’m not sure I’d do it myself.  Would you?

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a film bursting with awesome. Somehow, director Edgar Wright has managed to craft a film so entertaining, so heartwarming, so fun, its a wonder this film doesn’t explode under the pressure of its own awesome.

Based on the comic-book by Bryan Lee O’Malley, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is an entertaining story of boy meets girl laden with comic-book and video-game references that will make many a geek squeal with delight, all while keeping a wonderful sense of humor. Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a 22-year-old slacker living in Toronto. His band, Sex Bomb-omb isn’t going anywhere and his gay roommate, Wallace (Kieran Culkin), is trying to evict him. Scott doesn’t seem to worry about anything until he lays eyes on Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and falls for her instantly. The problem is that, in order to continue seeing her, Scott must defeat her seven evil exes.

This silly little plot device drives the story forward and provides the simple framework for the entire film. From the opening title sequence, through the seven (technically six) intense battles, and all the way up to the great finale, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is simply a blast. The movie is so much pure fun that I suggest you stop reading this and just go see it (and then come back to the site, please) Of course, as a critic, saying, “It’s awesome!” is not enough. What makes Scott Pilgrim vs. The World such a magnificent experience?

The comedy has a lot to do with the overall enjoyment of the film. Of all genres, great comedies can have the biggest effect on their audiences. There’s something about a good laugh that pleases the soul and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World fires on all cylinders when it comes to the laugh-making. Many films have great funny moments, but Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is consistently laugh-out-loud funny. Several characters stand out as especially funny (Kieran Culkin as Scott’s gay roommate Wallace, Anna Kendrick as Scott’s sister Stacey) but really each character is unique and genuinely funny. The seven evil exes also provide their own laughs as they are revealed. Apart from the general hilarity of the story and characters, the situations are only made funnier by the great visual gags that run through the film.

From a filmmaking perspective, these visuals are the the most innovative part of the film. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a comic-book/video-game come to life. Never before have I see a film edited with such kinetic energy throughout. Words constantly litter the screen just like a comic panel; characters are introduced with little name badges; we see diagrams of Scott’s mind. These little things seem unneccessary, but they really give the movie its light-hearted, joyful spirit and they definitely aren’t gimmicks. These silly gags support the story by providing atmosphere as well as just being awesome and hilarious. The battles are also delicious eye-candy. Here is where we see the heavy influence classic video-games have on this film. Whenever an enemy is vanquished they burst into a thousand literal coins; Scott grabs new life out of thin air; power-ups manifest themselves in flaming swords. It’s all a huge nod to the video-games of yesteryear, and will entertain even those with no experience with any sort of video-game. But still, visuals alone cannot drive a film.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is the story of one man – Scott Pilgrim. He is the only character in the film that really has any depth, and for good reason. The film is told from his point of view and from the first frame to the last we see the world as Scott himself sees it. In this way, the movie is very personal. We quickly grow to love Scott Pilgrim, faults and all. Even when he treats his girlfriend Knives like a complete jerk at the beginning of the film, we don’t care because we’re already irrevocably on his side. Scott’s quest to get Ramona is the main thrust of the film, but this story is not a true romance. Ramona is not a character in her own right, but a model of perfection and the object of Scott’s affection. She only exists to give our hero a reason to fight. Its easy to see the influence Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind had on Ramona’s style but the complexity of that much more serious film is entirely missing here. Still, by the end of the movie, Scott has learned something about himself and the world around him and we not only experienced his journey with him – it was a blast, too.

Scott Pilgrim vs The World works on so many levels it defies categorization. It’s as hilarious as any great comedy. The action is as good as any Bourne film. The visuals are gorgeous. The writing is wonderfully witty. And at its core, it is a charming love story. All of these elements combine into one magnificent, wildly entertaining motion picture that is not to be missed.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Today at Comic-Con saw less news, but much more high-profile announcements. Most of the action took place in Hall H, which was bogged down with some serious line management problems, but we’ve got it all summed up right here for you.

The first big presentation of the day was from Warner Bros. First, the first footage from Green Lantern was screened. Although nothing spectacular, the fans enjoyed it overall, but were disappointed with the lack of Reynolds in the suit. This only confirms the fact that the suit is a work-in-progress. Still, I am looking forward to this film and hope that it can be a simple, fun superhero origin story, which we haven’t seen a lot of recently. Also, I’m looking forward to the more fantastical elements of the hero. Producer Donald DeLine said that many other Green Lanterns are featured and that the movie is part space opera, which is a good sign that they’re not ignoring that area of the Green Lantern mythos. And although the Green Lantern announcements are cool, DC has really not stepped up their game to challenge Marvel’s cinematic dominance. Geoff Johns is now in charge of their creative decisions moving forward, which is a great move, but the company has not centralized their film properties as Marvel has to such enormous success. Also, there was no word on Batman, which was a huge missed opportunity. Still, I’m hoping that after Green Lantern DC gets their act together and makes something great, maybe a Justice League movie? (Although I’m torn on whether or not Chris Nolan’s Batman should be a part of anything like that.) After a short Harry Potter trailer and panel, Zack Snyder came onstage for Sucker Punch. This new movie is based on his idea and stars an ensemble cast of women who are breaking out of a mental institution and includes Carla Gugino, Jamie Chung, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone and Emily Browning. I’m not sure what to think about this movie, but the footage got a fantastic reception and it sounds truly unique. Hopefully the trailer gets released online soon so we all can see it.

Let Me In, the American remake of the Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In, has had an enormous 360 when it comes to the public’s view. After a period of resenting the fact that such a movie was being remade, it seems like every detractor has been shut up by footage from the upcoming movie. I know I wasn’t too excited for this, but now its definitely on my radar. Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), from what I can tell, is doing a fantastic job helming the movie. He talked about how Steven Spielberg gave him tips for interacting with young actors, and that is what has me most excited for this film. Both Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) and Chloe Grace Moretz ((500) Days of Summer, Kick-Ass) have a lot of potential to give amazing performances and I hope they both pull it off. Check out this trailer for the film:

At this point, Hall H screeched to a halt after a fight broke out. It’s still unclear what actually happened, but the prevailing rumor is that someone asked another guy to move and when he didn’t, he stabbed him in the face with a pen. That’s speculation, but the scene was pretty grisly with blood everywhere and the victim being taken out on a stretcher, all with 8 or 9 cops in the vicinity.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost then introduced their new film, Paul. In the movie, the duo travel to Comic-Con and then embark on a road trip to Roswell, New Mexico. On the way they meet an alien named Paul, who is voiced by Seth Rogen. Paul is directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad) and the supporting cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Jason Bateman, and Jeffrey Tambor. I am really looking forward to this movie as Pegg and Frost are consistently hilarious and the story is pretty original. Paul is not your typical alien – he basically thinks of himself as an everyday Joe. Road trips are always pretty fun so having one with this trio of comedians and an alien should be awesome.

Once again Jon Favreau showed his skill at captivating the geek demographic by creating huge anticipation for Cowboys & Aliens, his new movie starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, and Sam Rockwell. Although the idea is great, it takes skill to blend such two very different genres, but Favreau is going for a very Western feel. After explaining that he is trying to emulate the Sergio Leone/John Ford films of the 40s and 50s, while using practical effects from the 80s as well as CGI for the aliens, he decided to just screen some early footage. Although the crew has only been shooting for three weeks, attendees were very impressed by the scene. In a surprise appearance, Harrison Ford was brought on stage in handcuffs by two security guards. It was his first appearance at the convention and the crowd went nuts. This a natural reaction, of course, to the man who played Han Solo and Indiana Jones, as well as many other awesome characters. I hope Favreau can really nail the Western feel and deliver a really fun, interesting film due out next summer, July 29th.

Now the presentation you’ve all been waiting for: Marvel. What Marvel is doing with their properties on film is incredible. By going independent and forming Marvel Studios where writers can collaborate and come up with great, interlocking stories for all of their superheroes, the company shows that it knows what its doing. Hopefully the result will be incredible, but there are a lot of moving parts, and all of them must come together perfectly. Captain America was first, as a short teaser showed Chris Evans in full costume throwing the iconic shield at the camera. After some discussion, the filmmakers actually had some footage to show which involved Hugo Weaving as Red Skull searching for an artifact that has something to do with Odin. I really like the Indiana Jones/World War II period piece vibe I’m getting for this movie. I hope Joe Johnston can create a very good atmosphere and seeing Cap killing Nazis is going to be sweet. Next up was Thor, which is much farther into production. A lot of footage was shown, and I can’t wait to see the trailer. Apparently the costumes are not nearly as cheesy as they looked in the first images we were shown. Reactions were very positive, which is a relief. Finally, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige brought on The Avengers. After years of rumors, this movie is finally actually happening. The final lineup was announced: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman/Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Donald Blake/Thor, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk (see the full cast in the photo from the event). It’s going to be insane seeing so many heroes on screen at the same time. I hope Joss Whedon can bring together all of this madness and deliver an amazing film.

Behold the cast of "The Avengers"

Well that was a very big day at Comic-Con, and while we knew most of this going in, it was still awesome to see all of these projects materializing before our eyes. Its going to hard, but we can’t fuel the hype too much. I’m looking forward to all of these films as much as anyone, but I’m not going to let the anticipation ruin my enjoyment of the movies as movies.

In the last week, a barrage of images have hit the web from the various comic-book adaptations on the way. Starting with the Green Lantern reveal, which we already featured, we’ve seen new images from Thor as well as Captain America: The First Avenger. Check them all out below (click for high-res) the jump and share your thoughts.

First up we have the first picture of Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern in case you missed it the first time:

And here are a few more scans from that same issue of Entertainment Weekly:

Next up is a first look at the gods of Thor, including the first image of Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Tom Hiddleston as Loki:

Here is a picture of just Odin and Thor:

Now we have a bigger image from Thor, this time in the throne room of Asgard:

Las night, we got two concept posters for Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor, respectively:

And, finally, today another Thor image debuted, this time of the god’s alter-ego, Donald Blake, pulling the hammer Mjolner out of solid rock:

So what do you think? I am still really excited for Thor, but the images of the gods are a little worrying. I am not going to pass judgement before I see a trailer, but they look very silly right now. I’m really liking the Captain America images, though. I love how the film is set during World War II. Seeing Cap fight the Nazis is going to be awesome. As for Green Lantern, I am looking forward to seeing a traditional superhero origin story. What I mean by that is it’s looking like DC is going back to the basics – they’re not trying anything special with GL as far as I can tell. Hopefully, it’ll just be a fun superhero flick.

There’s sure to be a ton of superhero film news headed your way in the next week thanks to that little geek gathering over in San Diego, so prepare yourself.

On Friday, Hitflix reported that Marvel would not be calling Ed Norton to play Bruce Banner/The Hulk in The Avengers. After giving it a few days, this news is definitely confirmed. Unfortunately, Norton is definitely out.

Let’s start at the beginning. Friday, Hitflix broke the story that Marvel would not be asking Edward Norton to return as The Hulk. On the surface it sounded as if the much-publicized disagreements between Norton and Marvel over The Incredible Hulk had continued, and that creative differences had led to the split. However, this was definitely not the case. Norton was very interested in returning for The Avengers, had been approached by Marvel, and was in the process of civil negotiations. He had even met with Joss Whedon, and everything was going smoothly until seemingly out-of-the-blue Marvel decided to “go in another direction.”

The next day, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige confirmed the news with this statement:

“We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks.”

Norton’s agent Brian Swardstrom, responded with:

“This offensive statement from Kevin Feige at Marvel is a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light. Here are the facts: two months ago, Kevin called me and said he wanted Edward to reprise the role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. He told me it would be his fantasy to bring Edward on stage with the rest of the cast at ComiCon and make it the event of the convention. When I said that Edward was definitely open to this idea, Kevin was very excited and we agreed that Edward should meet with Joss Whedon to discuss the project. Edward and Joss had a very good meeting (confirmed by Feige to me) at which Edward said he was enthusiastic at the prospect of being a part of the ensemble cast. Marvel subsequently made him a financial offer to be in the film and both sides started negotiating in good faith. This past Wednesday, after several weeks of civil, uncontentious discussions, but before we had come to terms on a deal, a representative from Marvel called to say they had decided to go in another direction with the part. This seemed to us to be a financial decision but, whatever the case, it is completely their prerogative, and we accepted their decision with no hard feelings.”

This led to a very vocal backlash at Marvel. Passing over Norton, a great actor who obviously loves the character, was bad enough. But the way they did it was even worse. I mean, Marvel has the opportunity to make the biggest geek movie ever and they’re dropping the ball. They already know that this movie is guaranteed to make a killing at the box office, but that doesn’t give them an excuse to forget their fanbase.

This whole ordeal just goes to show that Marvel isn’t as concerned with making a seamless bridge from their individual superheroes to The Avengers as we were led to believe. I’m sure that the movie will still be amazing to watch, but that break in continuity will hurt a little.

Yesterday, Norton released a statement of his own on his official Facebook page:

“As most of you know, I don’t like to talk much about the business of making movies because it means a lot to me to protect the audience’s fullest enjoyment of the ‘magic’ that films can have. But I am so appreciative of the outpouring of support from the fans of the Hulk and the Avengers that I feel it would be rude not to respond. So here goes: It seems it won’t work out for me to continue playing Bruce Banner for Marvel in The Avengers. I sincerely hoped it could happen and be great for everyone, but it hasn’t turned out as we all hoped. I know this is disappointing to many people and that makes me sad. But I am very sincerely grateful to Marvel for extending the offer and even more so for giving me the chance to be a part of the Hulk’s long and excellent history. And I really can’t thank the fans enough for how much enthusiasm you’ve sent my way about what Louis and I tried to do in our turn with the legend. It means a lot to me. I grew up with Banner and Hulk and have been a fan of every incarnation. I’m really proud, and very blessed, to have been one of them and will be thrilled to see him live on through other actors. Hulk is bigger than all of us, that’s why we love him, right?

So, Norton bows out with class. Still, this whole story is very disappointing. I’m curious to see who will be chosen to replace him. CHUD posted a rumor that Joaquin Phoenix was approached for the role but that has not been confirmed. Presumably, we will have an announcement at Comic-Con next weekend.

Hugo Weaving, best known for his work in the Lord of the Rings and Matrix trilogies, not to mention V for Vendetta, will play the villainous Red Skull in Captain America:  The First Avenger, according to a press release from Marvel Studios.

Weaving had been in talks to play Red Skull, aka Johann Schmidt, since March. Schmidt is a Nazi military genius whose preferred weapon is his “Dust of Death,” which kills in seconds and leaves victims with a shriveled red skull. Schmidt kills to the music of Chopin’s funeral march. However, the character will be updated for this version of the tale.

Chris Evans is slated to play titular Captain America, and Hayley Atwell will play Peggy Carter, Captain America’s wartime love interest.

Captain America:  The First Avenger will be directed by Joe Johnson with a script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Kevin Feige (Marvel Studios) will produce, and comic-book genius Stan Lee is on board as one of the executive producers.

The story will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America. The First Avenger is scheduled for release on July 22, 2011 and will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Chris Evans will reprise his role as Captain America in Marvel Studios’ The Avengers, set to be released on May 4, 2012.

How you feel walking out Sylvain White’s ‘The Losers’ is going to depend a lot on what you went in expecting. A light-weight, energetic and cheerfully dumb action movie, it surges forward confidently down a well worn path of macho swagger, jarring explosions and snarky quipping. The plot is a model of simplicity and efficiency. Right off the bat, you get your super secret military squad betrayed by a mysterious superior, and a scene where innocents are demolished and the good guys have a vendetta, and finally there’s all that follows with the team in hiding, seeking out their revenge.

You know the drill, could jot down the finer points of the story during the opening credits, and you would be mostly right. Take one look at the roster for the team and you’ll see the usual lot of oddball characters being played by a game cast of second tier stars who have all the talent and then some of the A-list. What works with The Losers is that it understands exactly what it is, and has a firm and able grasp on the comic book origins of its story.

Last week’s Kick Ass was a slick and mean slice of cynical geek catering, always trying terribly hard to remind its numbed audience of its edgy graphic novel pedigree. The Losers is a far more cheerful affair and it doesn’t make any apologies or expect special privileges for being adapted from a funny book. The action is crisp and clear, with a welcome lack of dizzy camera work and seizure inducing editing that looks like an explosion at the Photoshop filters factory. To be sure, there’s some stylistic underpinning that works in the same way that some panels in a comic book do, livening up the action and the narrative with a little well placed, creative pizzazz.

There is an amazing amount of explosions in The Losers and I’m not sure I’ve seen as many automatic weapons or tracking shots of bullets since the late 90s. I enjoyed the action though, and while it dominates most of the movie, it feels perfectly appropriate for one with a title such as this. The revenge drama at the story’s center isn’t much, but when the bad guy is played by Jason Patric, there’s about as much reason as you need.  Patric, for his part, struts around the movie like some kind of odd hybrid of peacock, cobra and jackass.

The rest of the actors, led by the charming unmade bed that is Jeffrey Dean Morgan, give the picture much needed spice; they don’t try to retread 80’s movie action clichés as much as they seem to be performing the comic improv version of them.  Morgan’s Clay is the rascally, dare-devil leader of The Losers and it’s he who has moved them into exile after their alleged ‘death’. Morgan is a versatile and dependable actor and his turns on Supernatural and in last year’s Watchmen have the air of forethought and inspiration. In the latter case, he was easily the best thing about the movie. However, there’s no rich or nuanced shading to Clay.

This is Morgan on vacation, but not in a dead-eyed, ‘give me the paycheck’ Nic Cage sort of way. He’s having fun, fully relaxed, and as a result, we can see more of the latent charm that he buried under damaged men in those previously mentioned films. You can see his comic stand-up roots showing through, and he’s helped out with the funny by future Captain America, Chris Evans, who’s the most endearingly nerdy member of the team. It isn’t always immediately evident, but Evans has a real knack for adding flavor and variation to throwaway secondary roles. I’m looking forward to what he brings to the table as Steve Rodgers.

Zoe Saldana has been on a roll lately. In both Avatar and Star Trek, she showed she could hold her own in the deep dark geek jungle, and indeed she’s been playing strong, defiant and radiant females for years now. Off the top of my head, I remember her as a feisty lady pirate next to Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack in that first Pirates film. Here, she’s the mystery woman who beats up Morgan, burns down a hotel and reveals that she not only knows the identity of their mutual nemesis, but where he can be found. In the all guy ensemble of The Losers, she’s a welcome beauty who doesn’t need stubble or sneers to demonstrate that she’s not someone to be toyed with. There’s a kind of grace she brings to the film, whether it’s firing off a rocket launcher or sparring with Morgan, and I think she’s growing as a warm and likable presence with each new role. The Losers would be a less vibrant and endearing affair without her.

At the end of the day, this is what is. In a few months, we are getting The A Team and The Expendables, which look more or less like the same movie as this one. The former has the big budget and the latter the big muscles, but The Losers doesn’t seem too intimidated. After all, it made it out of the gate first, and as a prep for big summer fun, it does the job. There’s not much here, but the cast is all smiles and laughs and White’s direction has a no nonsense, workman’s charm. The Losers doesn’t want to assault you, or dramatically unhinge you, it just wants to hang out, catch a beer, and shoot the breeze, cinematically speaking. Everything about it suggests that all involved set out to make a good old fashioned, Friday night action flick. Mission accomplished.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

After a lengthy and unusually public search, the role of Captain America has finally been cast. Chris Evans has agreed to lead Joe Johnston’s Captain America: The First Avenger.

Evans is not new to the world of superheroes, having already played The Human Torch in the Fantastic Four series. His other films include Not Another Teen Movie, Push and the upcoming Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Marvel’s search for the Star-Spangled Avenger was put into the public eye last month when a short list for the role was revealed online. That list included John Krasinski (Jim on The Office), Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights) Michael Cassidy (Smallville) and Garret Hedlund (Tron Legacy), but not Chris Evans. A similar situation occurred during the search for Thor. Chris Hemsworth, who eventually got the job, was not on the list to be screen-tested.

A few days ago, it was reported that Evans had been offered the role, but had not made a decision yet. The deal comes with options for nine films, including possible Captain America sequels and The Avengers, and a relatively meager salary of $300,000. Now THR reports that Evans has all but signed the deal.

Evans is a good choice for the role. He’s built for it, but he can also act. He could definitely pull off a serious Captain America. Many fans were worried after Krasinski was screen-tested, but apparently Marvel has chosen to go a different route.

The way Marvel is going about this multiple-film crossover with the upcoming Avengers film is very interesting. After introducing Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury after the credits of Iron Man, the seed was planted. Now, with the Thor and Cap movies in the works, we should be seeing the Avengers movie in 2012.