LindsayCaptain America: Civil War (2016) Directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo. Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson. IMDB says “Political interference in the Avengers’ activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man.”
In recent years, the biggest blockbusters and most anticipated movies are always those coming from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. By my count, the latest feature film in the franchise, Captain America: Civil War, is the 13th installment and first part in the MCU’s “Phase 3” branding. To say that there is hype surrounding this movie would not do it justice. But I came into this addition with a bit of trepidation after being increasingly let down by the stories woven into the expansion of the universe. I find that, especially with fantasy based films, the more that is uncovered and explained, the less I enjoy the action. With Civil War, I was happy to find a return to the broad strokes once familiar to super hero movies.
A quick synopsis (that I’m sure you’re already aware of) and I promise, no spoilers. Our favorite super heroes are under scrutiny from the public and U.S. government after another massively destructive baddie takedown leaves a city in ruins. The outcry sparked by the increasing collateral damage leaves the government in a position to demand that the Avengers agree to operate under a United Nations panel so that there can be oversight for the group’s heroic actions. This idea splits the group into two factions as Iron Man is a strong advocate for the idea of oversight but Captain America is concerned that restricting the group will ultimately dull their ability to be effective. Meanwhile, that pesky Winter Solider Bucky comes back into the scene and really throws a wrench into the whole diplomacy situation.
So many things work so well in Civil War that it’s easy to overlook its minor flaws. For starters, the movie has a smart, simple structure to it that keeps the story lively. Much like the previous Captain America film Winter Solider, this feature has more serious overtones than other films of the franchise but Civil War resonates as more of typical Comic Book story – one not to overthink and instead focus on the overarching thematic notes. We know about each Avenger and their egos and ideologies. There’s no need to jam in exposition at every turn – we already understand it. In a movie of this scale, with so many personalities and moving parts, the most refreshing thing about the screenplay is its brevity in explaining the plot. The movie is more concerned with moments and making them feel authentic to everyone involved – both the characters and the audience.
Not to be dismissed, the action and special effects work are also operating on the highest level. There are three major action set pieces and each one has a unique feel. The opening sequence (which was my personal favorite) keeps the action at a breakneck pace, the giant conflict among the main characters is fun yet thoughtfully choreographed, and the final confrontation is a more stripped down, character-focused plot-driver. The filmmakers do an impressive job giving each hero screen time to shine while in the same turn making the more character-maxed out scenes not feel bloated (not an easy task – see Age of Ultron). It’s also worth noting that I saw this in IMAX 3D and wasn’t bothered by it in the slightest. I even enjoyed it at times.
As I stated earlier there isn’t much to dislike here. The film’s biggest detractor for me is a very personal one. Occasionally I find the characters motivations to be an annoyance but as a viewer, I understand why they are necessary. Thankfully, this film doesn’t suffer from the big issues with these expanded universe films with the over explanation and flaunting of powers. Civil War is funny without being corny, intense without taking itself too seriously and a film I’m sure all fans will appreciate.