DVD Movie Review - Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The Winter Soldier is an old-school espionage movie that just happens to have Captain America throwing his shield around in it.

STORY:

Captain America/Steve Rodgers (Chris Evans) has been having a tough go at life lately.  Yes, he did save the world from Hydra in WWII and from invading aliens in the Avengers, but being an ice cube for decades hasn't really helped his psyche.  And now he's in the present just trying to catch up with everything he missed and come to terms with the death of friends he once knew.  But before he can yell, "I smell a rat," the Captain ends up deep inside a conspiracy that might cause trouble for SHIELD.  On the run with no one he can trust besides an ex-Russian agent code-named Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Rodgers has no choice but to fight back and find out exactly what's going on in his country.  Non-parachute plane jumping, witty one-liners, over-protective utility vehicles, window hopping, elevator scuffles, assassinations, and shield landings ensue.

"Hey, I just...just want to say thank you."

"For?"

"Under the Skin."

THOUGHTS:

The Winter Soldier is about as grounded as a Captain America storyline can get and that happens to work magnificently with the franchise.  The movie starts off with the Captain leading a team of special Ops soldiers on a quiet boat rescue.  No explosions, no machine guns, no aliens, no team of extraordinary super heroes or gods.  Just the Captain and his trusty shield bouncing off enemy faces.  You'll come to realize that this scenario takes the franchise down a much more serious road, but also allows more room for excellent story telling.

But don't go thinking the movie is all drama or action.  The real star of the film is the witty writing, which never takes a break no matter how action packed the plot gets.  The banter between Rodgers and anyone becomes the real heart of the movie, keeping the characters genuine and making them easily relatable.  It also keeps the film light even though the themes are heavier than any other Marvel film.  Trust and freedom are two of the hardest issues for any writer to add to a popcorn comic book movie, but The Winter Soldier pulls all these threads with ease and has no problem making you yearn for more once it's all over.

"I'm going to be honest here, Cap.  I have no idea why you think a game of D&D is crucial 

in helping us save the world."

SEXUAL TENSION:

Since Rodgers' main squeeze from the first film is now old and gray, the movie needed a strong female lead.  And the best thing they could have done is write the Captain opposite the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).  Every storyline—if it wants to hold readers/viewers’ attention—needs a good love story thrown in the mix.  And even though there's no sex or even heavy petting, you still ponder whether Steve and Natasha will end up together throughout the film.  Their dialogue suggests that they're old friends looking out for one another, but there's always a feeling of whether something else is lingering there too.  This adds humor and realism to both characters, while keeping viewers emotionally connected.

MAKING CAP HUMBLE:

Throughout the film, while Rodgers is running around pounding baddies into the ground, there are also a few dramatic issues unfolding.  The addition of Anthony Mackie (Falcon) is not only perfect casting but also helps humanize Cap by adding to the story the troubles of war and how tough it is for veterans afterwards.  Anthony Mackie's character, Sam Wilson, also happens to be dealing with loss.  And having these two together talking through their issues, along with joking and taking down the enemy, creates a much needed friendship subplot.

"Listen, I don't give a crap what name you have or had on your wallet.  I'm the f*cking Natural."

ACTING:

The main three: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Anthony Mackie are excellent as their superhero counterparts, and work well together as a small team.  Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky Barnes, spending most of the time silent and brooding.  As a friend his appearance works, but as a foe there's a tiny bit to be desired.  And even with over two hours of movie the character still needs to be flushed out a little more.  With Cap 3 already scheduled, hopefully the Bucky Barnes character will be more of the focus.  Robert Redford steps in as Secretary Alexander Pierce, and shows the rest of the cast how old school acting gets it done.  Toby Jones pops up again as the crazed Dr. Arnim Zola, to spew movie plot and get a makeover as an ancient computer.  Samuel L. Jackson—surprise—plays Samuel L. Jackson with the name tag: Nick Fury.  And rounding out the cast is Danny Pudi from community fame.  He jumps in for one line and to be Chris Evans' doorman.

OUTLANDISH COMIC BOOK IDEAS:

The only slight problem with the plot is after attempting to ground Captain America with espionage and conspiracies, the action and story can be over-the-top ridiculous at times.  But it is a comic book movie after all, so ridiculousness is part of the equation.  Does the helicarrier (how does a giant ship stay in the air, anyway?) sequence or Hydra's cliché goal of world domination, hurt the film?  No.  It's a Captain America story, remember?  Thankfully, most of the time, you get to see the character grow throughout the film.  However, don’t be surprised when you see a character flying around with a jetpack and bird wings, or robotic arms pounding people into the ground.  A computer with the brain of a human?  Alright.  The Captain taking out fighter jets with just his shield?  Why not?  These instances are just part of the massive world built by the Marvel Universe.  So if you can’t handle bizarre action sequences that defy physics, then you might want to sit this one out.

 

"Oh, come on.  Bean burritos can't be that bad, so stop acting.  Guys?  Guys..."

CONCLUSION:

Chris Evans may not have been everyone's first choice as the Captain, but after three solid performances (counting the Avengers) you really won't be able to see anyone else in the red, white, and blue outfit.  The Winter Soldier digs its claws deep into espionage and the Captain's emotions, all while remaining true to the character and creating a much more grounded story.  Note: don't forget to fast forward through the credits and watch the two extra scenes to help establish the plot of the next film and beyond.

4 1/4 out of 5 Stars (minus ¾ stars for underdeveloped Winter Soldier)