It’s hard not to draw comparisons between “Captain America: Civil War” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Both films pit iconic and beloved superheroes against one another and touch on what it means to be a hero. But Friday’s release of the third installment of the “Captain America” franchise is a vastly superior action-hero flick that will leave viewers in awe of its immense joy, heart and tight storytelling.
“Civil War” picks up a year after “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) are on a mission in Lagos when the battle goes wrong. After years of fatalities and destruction, the government, along with Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), encourages the Avengers to agree to be placed under the jurisdiction of the United Nations.
The Avengers are split: Stark supports it as he’s haunted by the destruction he has caused, but Rogers disagrees. But when another attack occurs and implicates James “Bucky” Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Rogers goes off the rails to figure out the truth behind the attack.
When Stark is asked to stop Rogers, it comes down to two teams: Team Iron Man and Team Captain America. Stark recruits Peter Parker (Tom Holland as Spider-Man is a hands-down absolute scene stealer) and introduces T’Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) to the Marvel Universe. Rogers brings back Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) to fight for his side.
It’s an all-out war between both sides. You won’t find a better, more entertaining fight scene than the airport sequence in “Civil War.” It’s fun to see both sides fighting for what they believe in and the value placed on why the Avengers do what they do: to save people, to be heroes, to do right by the world. As an audience member, it’s tough to pick sides, as both men are standing up for what they believe in. And you want both characters to walk away with a win. While “Civil War” could be mistaken as a third “Avengers” film—and trust me, it can be—at its core, it’s a movie about two men and their stubborn wills and desire to stick to what they believe is right.
“Civil War” never falters in its 146-minute runtime. It’s gripping, action-packed and often joyful entertainment, a true testament to the plan Marvel has for its cinematic universe. Its continuity with the previous “Winter Soldier” installment is important, and directors Anthony and Joe Russo intertwine the story effortlessly without losing coherence. For example, the movie kicks off with a 1991 flashback to Bucky as he’s activated as the Winter Soldier. A first assignment leads him to a car accident and wiping an unidentified serum from the car. It’s a flashback that the Russo brothers keep coming back to, holding out for an emotional resolution toward the end.
While Marvel isn’t breaking new ground with its storytelling, “Civil War” stays light and funny in between the tense, high-stakes moments, and that’s what’s going to keep bringing audiences back for more.
While superhero movies are often mythical and out of this world, “Civil War” brings it back down to earth. It’s simply just a story about the bonds of friendship, doing the right thing when presented with a difficult decision and how we’re ultimately shaped by our choices.
3.5 out of 4 stars
PG-13
