Genre: Action/Superhero
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writer: Mo Buck
Based on DC Comics characters
Cast: Jon Hamm, David Morse, Michael C. Hall, Isla Fisher, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lucas Till, Daniel Wu, Harry Treadaway, Michael Beach, Holt McCallany, Chris Sullivan, Dennis Haysbert, Elias Koteas
Plot: It’s been almost ten years, day for day that Captain Atom disappeared after absorbing the nuclear radiation from the submarine in Virginia Beach. The upper echelon of the United States army demands answer as to why their newly announced superhero, Captain Atom disappeared. This is why they summoned General Wade Eiling (David Morse), the man behind the whole Captain Atom stitch and Heinrich Megala (Michael C. Hall), the man who can explain Captain Atom’s condition to the world, to answer questions regarding the failed project that made them appear like fools on a national scale and in front of the President of the United States, no less. However, Eiling is well prepared, he concocted an elaborated story and he knows how to counter their questions. Evidently Megala doesn’t agree with the version of the story, he knows it’s full of lies, but Eiling threatened him to keep his mouth shut, as it would break his daughter to learn the truth about Captain Atom. In the end, he’s able to convince them that Captain Atom committed suicide, unable to handle all the pressure the entire country put on his shoulders. They are satisfied and so is Eiling, that all of this is over.
Peggy Eiling (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) is in the middle of a session with her psychologist. She expresses her true emotions regarding the father she never had. She explains that she doesn’t even know how to feel about him, some describe him as a hero, some, including her adoptive father, say Nathaniel Adam was a traitor. Peggy ends the session by saying that she’s obsessed by that feeling and that she’ll probably never be able to overcome it. When Peggy leaves the building, she’s being followed by a tall, mysterious man (Elias Koteas).
After Eiling left, Megala proceeds to do his expose on a dangerous that was believed to be lost, but rumors are that it resurfaced in Cambodia. The weapon, called the X-Ionizer, is a prototype molecular hardening technology device that can permanently realign the negative and positive ions of any substance… John Hillary (Dennis Haysbert) asks Megala to cut the crap and go straight to point. In short, the X-Ionizer can cut through anything. Megala shows a video of a demonstration during which the weapon cuts in half a wrecked ship. Hillary says it’s of the highest importance to retrieve this potentially dangerous weapon and he sends Colonel Victor Miller (Harry Treadaway), one of his most trusted man to go and find it. When Miller leaves, he enters a phone booth and gives a complete rendition of Megala’s presentation over the phone to an unknown caller.
Peggy and Wade both arrive at the house at the same time. She confronts her father about something that happened about ten years ago, right when Captain Atom was still a thing, a vague thought about her meeting with a random man at the Dulles International Airport, a man who looked at her with a look full of nostalgia and admiration. She just remembered it all of a sudden, evidently not knowing that she saw her true father that day. Wade tells her not to worry about it. Cameron Scott was a deranged individual and he’s now gone for good. She tells Wade that in order to change her mind, she’ll go shopping, but before she does, she asks her father that he can stop having her followed around everyday. Wade says its for her own safety, but he agrees. When Peggy leaves, Wade tries to call Homer Lockleed, the man he hired to follow her around, and he acccepts.
Heinrich Megala and Babylon (Chris Sullivan) are attacked by Dr. Sarrok, a former rival of Megala, jealous of his great knowledge of the atomic world. Sarrok built a particle beam and he’s threatening Megala with it. Sarrok knocks Babylon unconscious, so Megala is as vulnerable as ever. Out of nowhere appears Captain Atom (Jon Hamm) who divert the particle beam back at Sarrok killing him. Unlike what Megala taught, Nathaniel is furious at Megala for following along Eiling’s load of lies. Megala tries to convince Nathaniel that the lies were necessary, just like Eiling told him, but Nathaniel wants none of it, he completely obliterates Megala and Babylon. Heinrich Megala wakes up quickly, drenched in sweat. He had another nightmare, yet again. He’s deeply remorseful for Nathaniel’s condition and never having the chance to beg for his forgiveness.
It is the middle of the night and Peggy never got back from the shopping center. Eiling feels that his daughter have been kidnapped, by his own fault, he called off Homer. He tries to call him again, thinking he could track her after following her around for around 10 years, but he doesn’t pick up. The reason for it is pretty simple. After all those years around Peggy, Homer is now obsessed with her and he wants her all for himself, so the simple solution was to kidnap her. He has her attached to a pole in a dark, abandoned warehouse and he clearly has the intent of forcing himself on her. Eiling is trying to mobilize his men to find Peggy, but no one seems to answer his call, when something, or someone breaks the window of his office, Captain Atom. Changing into Nathaniel, he says that he wants to see his daughter alone, without interference and to reveal his true identity to her. Eiling tells him to calm down and to explain himself, how is he back when he’s supposed to be dead. Nathaniel says it all happened in an instant, but Eiling points out that 10 years have passed since he disappeared. Eiling says they need to chat later, but now they must find Peggy. Martin Allard (Holt McCallany) bursts in the office and he’s surprised to see Nathaniel, alive and well. He tells Wade that Peggy received a call this afternoon on her private line and the caller said that he would “bring her here” and “have fun with her”. Allard was able to trace it and it comes from an abandoned warehouse. Without losing anytime, Nathaniel shifts into Captain Atom and flies away to save Peggy.
When Captain Atom arrives at the warehouse, he sees his daughter tied up against the pole and Homer Lockleed taking a piss a little further. He hesitates a bit and he shifts back to his human form. He comes slowly from behind and knocks down Homer. He unties Peggy and asks her if she’s about to kiss him when he stops her dead in her tracks without three simple words: I’m your father. Peggy initially doesn’t believe it, but Nathaniel insists. After a very awkward cab ride back to the Eiling mansion, Wade finally admits that the man she knows as Cameron Scott isn’t dead like he told her, that he is in fact her very own father who also isn’t dead like he also told. When Peggy asks why her father is still alive, Nathaniel says that it’s because he’s Captain Atom. Clearly, they have to catch up real soon. Peggy is thrilled with the news, but Wade unsurprisingly isn’t. He orders Martin Allard to escort Nathaniel out of the room. He warns Peggy not to get too comfortable with him, because Wade is and will remain his father in the eyes of the law and that Nathaniel is a dangerous man and a traitor. She says she’ll make up her own mind about it.
Bette Sans Souci (Isla Fisher) also known as Plastique, is running in the Cambodian jungle, like she’s running for her life. She swore to never use her powers again, but she’s on the verge of burning this whole thing to the ground. She’s running and running and running, until she’s intercepted by an old Jeep. She hops on board and thanks her savior… Victor Miller. They’re chased by kamikaze warriors, but thanks to Miller’s unexpected arrival, they’re able to make it safely to their camp. There, Bette reports that she saw the X-Ionizer and she knows how to steal it.
Thanks to Nathaniel and Peggy’s insistence, Nathaniel is able to take his daughter to the local carnival, along with her boyfriend, Jeffrey Goslin (Michael Beach). When Goslin leaves them alone, Nathaniel asks Peggy about his son, her brother, and she says that Randy doesn’t know that he’s back. Nathaniel is dead certain that he wants to reconnect with son, his Randy, despite Peggy telling him that he never held on to the thought of seeing his father again like she did. As they were getting ice cream with Jeff, some armed men come in and summon both Goslin and Nathaniel, who they refer to his alias Cameron Scott to the Pentagon for a meeting with John Hillary. Peggy is left standing there, alone, once again she didn’t have the chance to kiss her father goodbye.
Wade Eiling goes to Megala’s hideout and categorically refuses that Babylon stays with them. Megala, whose condition worsened in the past years now has mechanical arms. Eiling disconnects them so he can’t be threatened by the scientist and he grabs him by the throat. He asks him about the other projects they did following Captain Atom, other projects that concluded with failures, but Eiling wants to know if there’s any possibility that they resurface like Nathaniel did. Megala struggles to answer affirmatively, but he says it’s definitely a possibility. Eiling reminds Megala that, although Heinrich wasn’t happy with the way the US Army handled the Captain Atom case, he has the last words and Megala must comply with what they decide and to not shit the bed, otherwise, he’s dead.
General Hillary summoned Nathaniel and Jeff to the Pentagon to brief them on a dangerous mission, retrieving the X-Ionizer, after they lost contact with Victor Miller. He’s adamant that the device must be recuperated without causing an international incident. They’re given no indication as of why they were specifically chosen, but it doesn’t look like they have much of a choice. Next thing they know, they’re on a plane to Cambodia.
Peggy Eiling enters an office in the United Air Force base to meet with her brother, Randy Eiling (Lucas Till). Launched rapidly in a military career by his adoptive father, Randy is a competent, albeit young, commander in the US Air Force. He hasn’t spoken to his sister in a long time, which is why her visit comes as a surprise to him. Unlike his sister, Randy never believed in his father’s innocence, completely brainwashed by Wade’s propaganda against Nathaniel Adam. She thinks she’s dropping a bombshell on his head, announcing the return of their father, but he’s not surprised, Wade already told him.
Victor Miller and Bette Sans Souci are trying to sneak in a camp to attempt to steal the X-Ionizer. However, Bette doesn’t accompany Victor in the camp, instead staying outside, knowing full well that he’s going in a trap, because, she himself walked into the same trap a couple of days ago, until Miller came along and rescued her. She intends on stealing the X-Ionizer and selling it on the black market herself. Miller tries to sneak in a tent, but he’s grabbed from behind by an imposing man. He’s able to free himself and he heads straight for his Jeep. The man who grabs him, tells him the Cambodian (Daniel Wu) sends his regards. He’s dressed head to toe in a samurai outfit. He pulls out the X-Ionizer and cuts the Jeep in half, injuring Miller. He’s able to spot Bette running away, so he runs after her.
Mere minutes later, Nathaniel and Jeff arrive at Victor’s last known location and stumble upon the camp. They find an injured Miller who, in his dying breath, tries to warn them about Plastique, but they don’t understand. They’re jumped on from behind by the rest of the Cambodian crew. Nathaniel transforms in Captain Atom and he’s able to soundly defeat them, while Goslin struggled to stay alive. When this is all over, Nathaniel and Jeff scout the camp and realise that they missed them by mere minutes. They separate and promise to come back here in an hour.
Plastique is cornered by the Cambodian, deep in the jungle. She has nowhere to go and she comes face to face with him. He puts down the X-Ionizer and intents on fighting her with his sword. At this moment, Bette decides to use her power, which unbalances the Cambodian but not enough to defeat him. Over time, her powers have diminished and are only a shade of what they once were. Despite her trying to kill the Cambodian with explosion, she’s simply not able. Tired, he grabs the X-Ionizer and threatens her with it. Out comes Captain Atom to knock the Cambodian out of the way. Thinking he defeated him, he changes back in his human form and he confronts Plastique. Their untimely reunion is cut short by the Cambodian using his sword to cut a hole in Nathaniel’s body. Energy pours out of his body and there’s a bright white light.
Wade Eiling is furious with John Hillary, for sending Nathaniel on a mission without his consent, as he’s, after all, the one in charge of the Captain Atom case. He thinks he’s mad at him because he made him look like a fool, so he wants to get back at him by sending his daughter’s boyfriend on a mission that he will probably not come back from. He gets a phone call from Peggy who lashes out at him for telling Randy but not to her. Wade is bloody pissed and he says he will hear about this and he will expose all of them, telling the media and the public that everything surrounding Captain Atom is a lie. He’s ready to throw in the towel, because that man is starting to destroy his life. Hillary tells him to calm down and that they will promote him to a three-star general. Eiling accepts and he’s happy to cooperate. Everything for his own good, right ?
Plastique is the first one to regain consciousness. She notices that both the Cambodian and the X-Ionizer are gone. However, Jeffrey Goslin has the X-Ionizer. He found them minutes ago and declared Nathaniel dead. He took the weapon and went away, wanting to get out of this place. Plastique is tempted to kill Nathaniel for everything he did to her, but her plans are hindered by the Cambodian’s men who came back to retrieve the X-Ionizer. She uses Nathaniel (as Captain Atom) as a shield and she’s able to use her explosions to send them away. When everything is clear, she carries him in a cave to tend to his wound. She uses her explosive powers with a lot of moderation to burn the wound close and she succeeds. He then transforms back to Nathaniel, who regains consciousness.
Nathaniel wakes up and he’s shocked to see Plastique healing him. He pushes her back and says he’ll have her arrested, but Plastique convinces him that she had a change of allegiance. She doesn’t fight for her cause, because she doesn’t believe it anymore. She’s now a bounty hunter and will kill or acquire things for people, it’s what she came here to do. Nathaniel transforms back to Captain Atom to heal himself quickly. He shifts back to his human form and he suggests they put on the fallen guards’ uniforms so they can move unrecognized. While he’s putting on his uniform, Plastique hesitates making a move on Nathaniel, but holds back. She definitely intends on killing him, but not now, he could be useful. Nathaniel uses his knowledge of the region dating back to his pre-Captain Atom days and he’s able to move closer to the border of Thailand. The duo is trekking on a mountain and Plastique finally makes a move to push Nathaniel down, but she misses and she falls herself. Nathaniel reacts quickly and shifts to Captain Atom at the last second and he grabs her before she lands on the ground. Plastique is confused as to why he just saved her.
They are walking in an open field when Nathaniel feels something suspicious. He turns around and the Cambodian is there, ready to cut Plastique’s head. He jumps the Cambodian and both of them start to fight him. They find out that his armor is nearly indestructible because it is reinforced with the X-Ionizer. While Captain Atom is battling the Cambodian and his men, Plastique takes the opportunity to flee across the border. Captain Atom is overwhelmed by his opponents and he’s unable to defeat the Cambodian. Captain Atom is nearly gunned down by some thugs. He fights them desperately and the Cambodian is ready to deliver the final blow, but out comes Plastique with a thunderous explosion that sends all the Cambodian’s guard flying. Both of them take him on and they’re finally able to kill the Cambodian using both Captain Atom’s powers and Plastique’s explosions.
General Wade Eiling attends his promotion and swearing-in ceremony. The ceremony is also attended by Dr. Megala, Babylon, Peggy and Randy. Randy excuses himself and he drags Peggy with him. Randy says he uncovered the reasons behind Eiling’s promotion and he’s sceptical as of why Wade wants to bury Captain Atom as much as he wants to do. He printed out the transcript of Nathaniel’s court-martial transcript. Peggy is dead certain that her father was framed, but Randy remains sceptical. He says he’ll look into it, but Peggy shouldn’t get her hopes up, but he warns her to be careful around Wade. You never know what he might do. They’re back in the room when it’s Wade’s turn and Megala can’t help but to make a comment signaling Eiling’s hypocrisy. Wade is all smile, clearly one of the best day of his life.
Nathaniel and Plastique make it across to Thailand, where Nathaniel was supposed to be extracted. They enter a small bar and Plastique kisses Nathaniel because he saved her life. He notices Jeff Goslin sitting in the same bar with the X-Ionizer in his pocket. He says he’ll be back and he and Goslin are reunited. During this time, Plastique looks over her shoulder and looks at Nathaniel. She sends him a kiss and leaves. When Nathaniel looks back, he notices Plastique is gone. He talks to Jeff about what happened and purposely omits to mention Plastique. They will be extracted soon, it’s mission accomplished for Captain Atom.
Post Credit Scene: Following his swearing-in ceremony, Wade Eiling went straight to a remote facility only a few have access to. He meets with Martin Allard who mentions problems with their Major Force project. It started to show sign of life. Allard says they should be worried, but Wade says it’s a good thing. They enter a room and a gold and purple body is in a cryogenic tank. Wade asks Allard to contact Megala, Project Major Force will come to life and Captain Atom better watch out.
Post Credit Scene: Jeff Goslin decides that it’s time for him to go back to the safehouse to get a good night sleep, but Nathaniel chooses to stay at the bar a while longer. A woman who sat in a booth gets up and sits next to him. Catherine Cobert (Mandy Moore), she says. She works for the United Nations and she shows him her ID. She says Captain Atom has been summoned to help save the world. He argues, but she puts him to sleep with a powerful sedative. Her men come in and they board to a plane. She says they’re going to Paris. The world needs to be saved and she needs heroes like him.
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