Of all the heroes assembled in 2012's wildly successful "The Avengers," it's easy to perceive the straight-laced Captain America (Chris Evans) as the least interesting of the crew, especially when compared to teammates like a billionaire armored playboy and a raging green monster. For the hero's second solo outing, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" was faced with the challenge of developing a character that could have easily come off as plain vanilla in the wrong hands. The movie's solution is to shake Captain America's foundation to its very core, making him question his own country and ideals. It's a brilliant move, one that propels the film to heights not usually seen in superhero blockbusters. Beyond serving as a breath of fresh air in theaters - rescuing us from the recent deluge of nonsense that includes shirtless Spartans and Liam Neeson on a plane - "The Winter Soldier" is an inspired entry in the superhero genre and a near perfect success.
Set after the events of "The Avengers," "The Winter Solider" finds Steve Rogers (a.k.a. Captain America) still adjusting to modern life after being frozen for over half a century, all the while serving on missions for S.H.I.E.L.D., the government defense organization that has grown even more powerful as a response to the New York attack. As hinted at in trailers, developments in Washington, D.C. have Rogers questioning what has happened to his country during his absence and what exactly the cost of freedom is. Without delving into spoilers, the film wastes little time setting major events in motion and diving into its main plot, embracing many themes of '70s era post-Watergate political films. Though there are times that the plot may feel a bit convoluted, Roger's foes eventually expand beyond the titular Winter Soldier to include the military-industrial complex itself, an explicit connection to recent events that lends the film an unusual level of gravitas.
While heady subtext like this could threaten to overwhelm the film, "Winter Soldier" finds its soul and anchor in Evan's portrayal of Rogers. While Evans was certainly likeable in his first turn as Rogers in "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011), he has now reached a level of comfort in his third outing that allows the character to feel fully realized. While Roger's characterization still touches upon the fish out of water aspect that was so prominent in earlier films, the seeds of doubt that he has concerning S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intentions in "Avengers" have now fully developed; we are presented with a hero dealing with the gradual erosion of values and institutions he once had faith in. Combined with Evans' charm and likeability in the role, Rogers now stands as one of the most engaging characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Beyond Evans in the lead, the film truly feels like a team effort thanks to a cohesive script and excellent supporting cast. Scarlett Johansson returns as fellow Avenger Natasha Romanoff (a.k.a. Black Widow), who displays a surprising camaraderie with Evans and delivers her best performance as Romanoff yet. Rogers also finds a new comrade in veteran Sam Wilson, portrayed by Anthony Mackie, who easily fits in with the already established cast. Other returning faces include CobieSmulders as Maria Hill and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, who has a larger role in the proceedings than in any previous Marvel film. As many of the cast members have already starred in multiple films together, the character interactions in "The Winter Solider" consistently find the right tone and help to flesh out the various subplots.
The remaining aspects of the film are executed nearly flawlessly, largely thanks to directors Anthony and Joe Russo, best known for their work on "Community" (2009-present). The Russo brothers have crafted a thrilling movie, filled with intricately plotted and dazzling action pieces that fully demonstrate the range of Rogers abilities. Thanks to varying camera work and exciting choreography, many of the fight scenes have a kinetic energy that make each sequence pop off the screen. Beyond these action-filled moments, "Winter Soldier" is an expertly plotted film, never squandering its momentum nor rushing individual scenes.
"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" reaches that rare achievement of franchise films: a sequel that surpasses the original. The movie manages to effortlessly combine character development, visual spectacle, broader political themes and cues for future Marvel films, while also boldly choosing not to revert to the status quo at the film's conclusion. Futhermore thanks to Evans' performance, the wit and heart of its hero is maintained throughout the film. The end result is one of Marvel's finest films to date: an engaging experience for both fans of the genre and moviegoers in general.
