The great and powerful Marvel universe is a bit fractured. The X-Men is going on in a parallel universe and in different time eras, Spider-Man, now “Amazing,” has now been completely rebooted, and then you have the juggernaut the Avengers. Being able to do something fresh in this crowded marketplace is getting tougher and tougher.
So, with the sequel to “Captain America: The First Avenger,” an earnest attempt is made early to set this adventure apart from the formulaic trappings that have plagued the Iron Man series. Picking up after the events that took place in the “Avengers,” Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) is still having trouble adapting to his new world. Most of the people that he knew during World War II have passed away and, because his secret identity is known to everyone, he is having a real hard time blending in. One issue that eludes him is dating. The film has fun teasing a possible relationship with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). Clearly, she’s the bad girl that would help balance Rogers’ squeaky clean image and give him an edge that he can draw upon when needed.
But the soap opera elements can only last so long, fans will expect action and that means lots of physicality and ultimately things blowing up. To that end, a Cold War style espionage subplot is injected into the narrative, which involves Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) and a shadowy government secretary named Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford). Without giving too much away, Fury’s Shield organization has developed a new type of technology that should help deal with terrorism and other international threats even before they develop. Captain America is a bit weary of Fury’s ambitions and seems ready to leave government service altogether. And problems happen when Cap starts thinking about making the transition to civilian life.
Meanwhile, a foe from Cap’s past, the mysterious Winter Soldier, surfaces and threatens Shield and the country. This naturally leads to the requisite big bang ending.
The first hour of “The Winter Soldier” zips along nicely. There are moments of melodrama punctuated by spy nonsense and action sequences. But as the film moves into its final act, it gets so altogether familiar and even a bit baggy. The final action sequence involving three separate flying fortresses is wildly over-the-top and pretty ridiculous. Viewers might even yawn. It almost seems out of place in a movie containing some very intriguing surveillance and privacy questions.
The central thematic issue concerns whether or not we as a society are willing to give up a significant amount of our freedom in order to be secure. These issues have been debated in other more weighty films. Arguably, Robert Redford’s “Three Days of the Condor” back in the 1970s dealt with these conspiratorial questions better. But, in this modern age, that film would not meet the blockbuster requirements for a early summer release.
Regardless whether the mix of hyper action and political conspiracy, cast in the mold after the “Avengers,” is entirely successful, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is still a very good time at the movies. And, frankly, it’s probably just a little too much to ask that the movie be truly about something dramatic and still play well to a wide audience. Think about how the casting works for all types of viewers. Redford’s appearance, in a role that is normally occupied by an actor like Max Von Sydow, courts older movie-goers. And the rest of the cast checks off all the boxes: Johansson is both sexy and tough, Anthony Mackie brings additional diversity, and Evans is the perfect embodiment of the World War II apple pie Americana hero. From casting to plot, the film is a marketing bonanza.
A final word about Anthony Mackie. I was surprised how well his character worked. The Falcon is a minor hero in the Marvel universe, but I could actually see that one spun off. It certainly helps that Mackie appears to be having such a good time in the role. And that points up why “The Winter Soldier” is such a good bridge to the next “Avengers” outing slated for a 2015 release. Just when things get a little serious, we’re reminded that at its core this franchise of films is just a bunch of aw-shucks fun.