Captain America: Civil War

About the only thing wrong with Captain America: Civil War is the title. Cap’s (Chris Evans) name may be on the thing, and he certainly plays an integral part. But it’s more accurately an Avengers movie, and the strongest individual character arc belongs to Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). And while the conflict between the characters is gripping, it’s not quite a war on the level of the Civil War comics. This is merely an observation, though, not a complaint, of which I have few.

The film literally namedrops The Empire Strikes Back, as perfect a blockbuster as there’s ever been. Sure, making funny pop culture references is a standard part of the Marvel formula, but it feels like the studio is slyly eliciting comparison to what’s likely the be-all and end-all of movies for many. And you know what? They’ve managed a film that can back up such an audacious claim. Yes, it’s that good.

The movie opens with an Avengers mission in Nigeria that accomplishes its objective, but results in the deaths of many civilians. This latest incident, on top of all the destruction in the previous films, leads the nations of the world to adopt an agreement that would put superheroes under government authority. Tony Stark, restless and guilt-stricken, supports the idea. Captain America, apprehensive that answering to the government could prevent them from saving people, opposes it. This difference of opinion comes to a head and sides are taken when the bombing of a diplomatic gathering is blamed on Cap’s childhood friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), formerly the assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

The Civil War comic event was a months-long conflagration spanning most of the Marvel universe, and was a rather one-sided affair (Stark’s faction acted rather super-villainous, some thought). Smartly, the film takes a different approach, paring the conflict down to a more intimate level and giving both sides compelling arguments and motivations, if not equal points. Despite the side-taking marketing angle (Team Cap or Team Iron Man), rooting interest in the viewer’s chosen team eventually diminishes, giving way to an aura of tragedy that the heroes are coming apart. And the villain (Daniel Brühl) is revealed to be a more thoughtful and sad figure, a nice counter to the (somewhat apt) criticism that Marvel’s baddies are mostly generic one-offs.

Fear not, action fans, for there’s still the big, satisfying slugfest with all the heroes (including a few new ones) we were promised. But it’s the smaller, closer, more personal fights that are truly affecting, so great is the underlying emotion and weight. Evans is still as much the moral rock as he’s ever been as the good captain, and Stan reveals a sad emptiness to his character. But this is inarguably Downey’s movie. This is the finest he’s even been in the series, his tortured soul barely being contained by his smart-aleck exterior. The clashes of character as well as fists add more fuel to the fire with every scene the three share. By the time the picture reaches peak climax, the effect is nearly as tragic, shattering and cathartic as a certain familial reveal in Empire. If Disney didn’t also own Star Wars, Marvel could tell The Force Awakens to eat its heart out, and would be totally justified.

The film also breaks new ground for the series in its structure. Remember how Age of Ultron was so stuffed that it seemed like it was bursting at the seams? Well, turns out Civil War is a bit of a continuation of that storyline, tying up loose ends, closing or moving along some arcs, and giving each new character a moment besides just introductions. What seemed like a narrative high wire act in one picture turns out to work splendidly over two, balancing many character arcs and subplots without becoming too busy or convoluted. It even finds room for whole new players and subplots, such as the strong debut storyline of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther, or the new Spider-Man (Tom Holland) in what amounts to a preview for the coming Disney-Sony co-production starring the charater (it's enjoyable, but it's still pretty blatantly a preview). And it still works!

As a matter of fact, that leads me to the lone complaint I have. Civil War is the best Avengers movie and best Iron Man movie yet, and could be the best Captain America movie (though The Winter Soldier is still tough to beat). Not only does its unexpected and successful execution of a two-film narrative bode well for Infinity War, but the picture clearly plants seeds and leaves things to be resolved then and there.

And after all that, we have to wait two years to see it.