Movie Review: “Captain America: Civil War” is fun and serious in equal measure

MOVIE REVIEW: “CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR” (PG-13)

Being a superhero isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes a seemingly decent act, no matter how heroic, can have repercussions. Pixar’s “The Incredibles” dealt with the age old “cause and effect” theme head on, and so does Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War.”

In “Captain America: Civil War,” a handful of The Avengers team — sans out-of-towners Thor and Hulk — are at a crossroads after a tragic mishap in the battlefield finds these keepers of peace under enormous political scrutiny. Should there be a law in place that keeps superheroes like The Avengers in check? Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) emphatically believes there should be while Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) firmly suggests that if there’s an issue that needs tending to, he simply can’t look the other way. Contention arises when a new threat surfaces, forcing various members of The Avengers into opposing points of view. In short, it’s Team Cap vs. Team Iron Man.

“Civil War” manages to succeed where DC’s recent “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” appeared to fail. It not only addresses the after-effects incurred when our favorite heroes cause inadvertent destruction while facing off against the enemy, but the reasoning behind this superhero “Civil War” feels far more meaningful. What’s more is that both sides take an incredibly valid stance in terms of their position. In other words, you could make a strong argument for both sides. Each hero who makes an appearance in “Civil War” — and there are quite a few heroes to speak of in this picture — serves a distinct purpose and is given multiple moments to shine.

A bulked-up Chris Evans is outstanding as ultimate do-gooder Steve Rogers/Captain America, even if his unwavering bond with Bucky/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) does force him to make a couple of questionable decisions in “Civil War.” Cap is still trying to find his footing in this contemporary political climate, and Evans brings real depth to a man who’s still making adjustments in a world he doesn’t entirely understand. Robert Downey Jr. has never been better as snarky Tony Stark/Iron Man, and what’s most intriguing about him in this picture is that we see an ego-check and a vulnerability that hasn’t really been explored up until this point.

In addition to returning favorites Captain America, Iron Man, Vision (Paul Bettany), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), “Captain America: Civil War” welcomes two brand new faces into the fold: Peter Parker/Spider-Man swings into the proceedings by way of new-to-the-role Tom Holland.  The young “The Impossible” star brings a boyish charm to the table, and that charm is punctuated by a perfectly fitting smart-alec attitude. Holland’s turn as the iconic web slinger in “Civil War” should get fans more than pumped for his upcoming standalone Spidey flick, “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”

Also making his debut in “Captain America: Civil War” is a stellar Chadwick Boseman (“42”). He brings quiet intensity and real dramatic weight to T’Challa/Black Panther, and his captivating screen presence in this picture has me even more excited for the standalone “Black Panther” movie (to be helmed by “Creed” director Ryan Coogler)  than “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”

Rounding out an impressive cast are William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross, a politician out to keep The Avengers in check; Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter, a woman willing to aid Cap however she can; Frank Grillo as Brock Bromlow, a familiar face with a new calling; Daniel Bruhl as Zemo, a complex man with an ax to grind; and Marisa Tomei as May Parker, Peter’s gorgeous aunt.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” directors Joe and Anthony Russo have returned to helm “Civil War” (they’ll also be handling directing duties on “The Avengers: Infinity War” 1 and 2) with the aid of screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and in addition to finding that right mix of seriousness and fun, they’ve managed to create a movie in which everything miraculously comes together. Some fans have been quick to suggest that this is more of an “Avengers” movie than a “Captain America” movie. While it’s true that “Civil War” is filed with a plethora of superheroes, it uses Captain America as the focal point.

“Civil War” is considerably deeper and substantially more dramatic than “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” and that’s saying a lot, because Joss Whedon is a hell of a filmmaker. With “Civil War,” the Russo Brothers give fans the prerequisite action and superhero-inspired grandeur. The big “Team Cap vs. Team Iron Man” sequence that transpires in this picture is a visual feast and an adrenaline-pumping blast, but there’s a playful sensibility at the heart of it. There’s wonderful humor between the punches (most of that humor is supplied by Ant-Man and Spider-Man). It’s a battle, yes, but there’s a real sense that neither team wants to put the other team down for good. It’s just a matter of one team wanting the other team to know who’s boss. The true conflict in “Civil War” comes later in the film, and it’s truly heartbreaking.

Perhaps the greatest trick that the Russo brothers pull off here is that they’ve managed to fashion a massive fan-friendly epic with a very intimate and contained story of friendship, loyalty, and revenge at the center. “Civil War” is a small movie and a huge movie rolled into one, and rather than ending on the customary sequence of mass destruction, this film ends on a decidedly different note. In fact, while this is hardly in line with the rather self-serious nature of some of the DC cinematic superhero properties, “Civil War” is, perhaps, the darkest of the Marvel movies. This edgier sensibility definitely works to the film’s advantage, though, especially when taking into consideration that some of the threads at play in this picture will lead in to “The Avengers: Infinity War.”

Listen, there’s a lot going on in “Civil War.” At 2 1/2 hours long, it’s the lengthiest Marvel movie yet, and while this film probably won’t make superhero fans out of non-superhero fans, it’s sure to impress those of us who love this particular genre. Whereas movies based on Marvel comics are concerned, I give “Spider-Man 2,” “The Avengers,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” the slight edge, but “Captain America: Civil War” is way up there. It’s super fun, super serious, and super provocative in equal measure, and I greatly look forward to experiencing it again.