“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is pretty enjoyable and continues Marvel’s lineup of films that fall short of superhero-movie greatness until we get another “Avengers” movie. This movie is what it is and I enjoyed myself when watching it, but do we really have to wait for Joss Whedon every time a character needs closure to an internal struggle?
In this film, we get to catch up with Chris Evans playing Steve Rogers (a.k.a. Captain America) again, staying busy with S.H.I.E.L.D. operations as he continues in his adjustment with the modern world. A big chunk of material featuring this hero from the 1940s, trying to find his place in the 21st century, was cut from “The Avengers” for time. Writers Ed Brubaker, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely were smart to put emphasis on the Cap’s struggle to get behind today’s America.
It starts off great as Rogers takes a morning super-run in scenic D.C., passing joggers multiple times with his unending energy and strength. He befriends Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie (good casting), a fellow soldier who bonds with Rodgers on the difficulties of coming home from a war. Later he will be an important ally to our hero.
After a mission with mysterious results and the revelation of a new spy aircraft weaponry program, Rogers’ distrust of his fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. members grows. Even Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) seem questionable. Meanwhile, Fury is ambushed by a mysterious assassin and leaves behind a clue for Rogers who, suspecting corruption in the organization, goes on the run to find answers. The film essentially becomes a comic book espionage thriller. It is only fitting that Robert Redford is in the movie as a high-ranking official.
The film’s setup and character development follow all the responsibilities of a good sequel. It is only when the story and obstacles develop that it starts to feel unfocused and uninteresting. The main antagonists of the story are pretty bland. I also think that it’s corny whenever a villain – yes, even a villain to Captain America – is creating mayhem because they intend to “destroy freedom.”
Brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, who have directed episodes of “Community” and “30 Rock,” may be unlikely choices to have made this film, but their work is decent. Still, this is a movie made by committee. The action is very expensive-looking. Some of it is exciting, and some is headache inducing. Regardless, there’s a little too much of it. Every time I review a new action movie, I feel self-conscious. I don’t want to give the impression that I’m the wrong person to be talking about this stuff. Yes, an action movie without much action wouldn’t be an action movie. It just seems as though only a few talented filmmakers out there know how to marry the action with the drama, or comedy, or whatever kind of action hybrid you’re dealing with.
Captain America will return, and I guess that excuses these filmmakers of being responsible for what they’ve established, including tough questions about our country’s lack of innocence and the illusion of freedom. This review feels so complete but I really can’t go further into it without divulging spoilers. It’s certainly better than “Thor: The Dark World” and just about as good as “Iron Man 3,” but we all know that “Age of Ultron” is where the goods are. Unfortunately, we won’t get that for another year.
Bennett Duckworth is a film fanatic who lives in Louisville and goes to see a movie in the theater at least once a week. He has kept a movie review blog since September of 2011 with the mission of writing about every new release he sees, as well as new trends in filmmaking and classic films he loves. You can read more of his reviews at www.bennettduckworth.blogspot.com.