Cap is in some tough straights. His first film was of
decided low ambition. It was fantasy thriller. By which I mean the characters
gestured at some vague political message while punching each other. His role in
the Avengers is easily overlooked, as his super powers don’t yet seem active
and he became a naive idealist following World War II… Wellp, someone fixed all that. Cap shoulder
checks his critics and rallies the faithful around a something they can say “That’s
why I love the Cap!”
I mean, Ok, a genuine political thriller it is not. But Cap 2 is a lot smarter about what to
use. Absurd Nazi scientists are given minor roles before being mercilessly
stomped out of canon. Most of the weaker story elements are carry-overs from
the comics. They feel like ritual homage. Cap
2 doesn’t celebrate its comic history as much as pass it like a kidney
stone. It wants to be better, smarter, but is saddled. It does its best to setup
the factions and technology with modern sensibilities but when the punch line
is “brainwashed Russian solider”… How is that ever going to feel rational?
Larger themes come half-way to respectable. Issues like government overreach born
out of zero oversight are hot. Again, the film does so much to come at these
ideas honestly but in the end the comic booky-ness steps in and says “Helicarriers
with, like, A THOUSAND GUNS!!!”.
Here’s what’s cool and will blow your mind. Captain America
actually has badass super powers. I think the highlights from the first movie
were 1) Cap running 40mph and 2) Him punching a car window. In The Avengers he nearly died fighting,
what, six aliens? Fighting one brainwashed agent with a gun was touch and go. It’s
every little thing here. His morning run is something to behold. And no matter
how many times its Cap vs a squad of elite soldiers with guns, he makes it
fresh. He rampages. I’m watching these sequences in theater wishing so badly I could rewind to see it again.
I’m very nearly shouting in my seat. There is not a single bad action piece in
the movie. They just get better. I don’t buy movies to own anymore. I see a lot
so it’s always “on to the next one”. I cannot wait to rewatch The Winter Soldier. Everything was done
Right. He fights like a soldier. But he moves with power well beyond human
levels.
That feeling of Rightness is what I found so compelling.
Finally, the potential of the concept is realized. Not only the fighting. The
relationship between Cap and Black Widow is dramatically different. It’s
apparent in the trailer. These characters aren’t a few special effects on top of
a stream of shitty one-liners. They’re much more human than other characters in
any Marvel movie. The banter is fun, not filler. There isn’t Dead Time. Those
moments between major set pieces. If Cap and Widow are going to talk, it’s an
honest talk with purpose. When they’re traveling, it’s with style. Even Nick
Fury! Who has been the greatest disappointment to me in each film. It’s Samuel
L. Jackson! Why is not doing anything Samuel L. Jackson would do? Well, now he
does.
Same with Falcon / Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). I thought he
was going to get his abrupt little origin. Cap would give him a high-five so
audiences would know he’s a good guy.
Go see his movie whenever that comes out. No. Captain America does the unthinkable in an action / superhero movie
and makes use of its supporting cast. Falcon is integral. What’s more, Mackie
is supremely comfortable. He doesn’t try to get a mini Me Too action moment. Or
be the funny guy. Or whatever one dimensional archetype. He elevates the movie
through simple, authentic, acting. Who the fuck would have thought more actors
in a superhero movies would make it stronger?
(Note: I didn't directly talk about the Winter Soldier because he fits into the "lousy comic book elements" paragraph and the "hype fighting" one. So, there.)
