There really is no precedent for what Marvel Studios is attempting to accomplish with their juggernaut of a multi-film franchise. Make no mistake, they’re re-establishing the trend of emphasizing the franchise model over single films.
So the fear is certainly warranted that in the rush to get to the must-see summer event of 2015, Marvel would risk rushing out a few half-assed sequels designed to introduce more characters into the Marvel Movie-verse at the expense of the movie leads.
And with a character like Captain America, who doesn’t have the smugger-than-smug personality and murder suit of Tony Stark, or the the gravitas of a thunder god like Thor, the chance for “Winter Soldier” being a weak after-thought to the Marvel movie franchise was a possibility.
Thankfully, “Winter Solider” stands head and shoulders above some of the weaker entries into this movie series.
Taking place after the events of “Avengers” (don’t worry, you didn’t have to see it to get into it), “Winter Soldier” finds Captain America trying his best to find purpose for himself in the 21st century and adjust to his unease of the new world of black and gray morality.
Going in, the initial worry was that Captain America, removed from his element of World War II, would have a hard time carrying a movie that had to rest solely on his own shoulders. To compensate, “Winter Soldier” serves up a hell of an action-packed script, soaked with intrigue, and does much more to border this Marvel Movie Universe and everything you thought you knew about it.
Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow returns (and gets A LOT more to do then just be a simple window dressing) and Chris Evans proves he can turn in a surprisingly reserved Captain America performance while keeping him engaging.
That’s not to say “Winter Soldier” spends the whole time dredging up old characters and adding depth. Anthony Mackie marks the introduction to Captain America’s longtime right-hand man (and one of the first black comic book heroes created by Marvel), Falcon. He gets a decent amount of time to service the plot and (spoiler alert: set up a great sequel hook for a proper team up).
And, of course, the title character himself—the mysterious Winter Solider—is this movie’s T-1000 in the way he just steals every scene he’s in and ratchets the threat level up to 11.
If there’s anything to complain about Winter Soldier, it’s that maybe one or two more Avengers references would have been nice. But the film never fully feels like it’s isolated from the rest of the Marvel Movie universe. The plot, while tight and action-packed, never feels self-contained.
And while maybe you don’t get the walking quip factory you’d get with Tony Stark, or the battle of immortal Gods you’d get with Thor, Captain America brings the heart.
Rated PG-13: for intense sequences of violence, action, and gunplay throughout
Runtime: 136 min
Grade: A
