Review: Captain America: Civil War

Don't call it Avengers 2.5

You've probably heard by now, but in case you were worried. This is not an Avengers movie. No, this is every bit a Captain America movie. His friends are just along for the ride.

Steve, (Chris Evans) Natasha, (Scarlett Johansson) Sam, (Anthony Mackie) and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) are on a mission in Lagos, Nigeria. When something goes horribly wrong, the United Nations throws together the Sokovia Accords, a law saying the Avengers can only act when they tell them to. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) fresh off being guilt tripped by the mother of a man who died in Sokovia is all for it. Rhodey (Don Cheadle) and Vision (Paul Bettany) side with him too. But Cap is against it. Making matters worse, Bucky (Sebastian Stan) is being blamed for a crime he did not commit, and Steve will do anything he can to protect him. Even if that means going against the law.

My hype for this movie was insane. I love the MCU, I don't care if I hit fangirl mode about it. Not all of their movies are good, but they have way more hits than misses and Civil War may be their biggest hit of all. The Captain America movies have always been the strongest ones, and I love that they decided to do Civil War. Cap is very much at the heart of this with Bucky, Iron Man doesn't steal his thunder. I love that they had everyone talk about the accords. They actually spent a good amount of time on deciding instead of immediately splitting sides, and both sides are right, which makes everything that happens even more tragic. 

One thing Robert Downey Jr. does do is give the best acting performance of the film. Tony's always been a fairly complicated guy, but he's pushed emotionally into a place we've never seen him before. Evans is always great as Cap too. He's just a man trying to do the right thing. Newcomer Chadwick Boseman is very strong as T'Challa/Black Panther. He's perfectly stern throughout. Bucky and Sam also have wonderful banter that provides some of the best lines in the film. The two scene stealers though are easily Paul Rudd as Ant Man and Tom Holland as Spiderman. Rudd is always a gem on screen, and he's a blast during the stunning airport fight scene at the end. I've always been in the Tobey Maguire corner when it comes to Spiderman, but Holland really is the best so far. He captures the awkwardness of him perfectly, and unlike Andrew Garfield before him, he actually looks like a teenager. He actually talks so much during the airport fight that Sam has to essentially tell him to shut up.

Civil War was everything I wanted it to be and more. I wish it would've been longer, because the film flew by. If there was a downfall, it would be Sharon Carter. Her entire purpose in this film is to be Cap's love interest. They take Peggy's funeral and make it about Sharon making eyes at Cap, then everything she does after that is to service her crush on Cap. (I know their relationship is a huge comic thing, but I've always found her bland and their relationship kind of gross) But she's only in the movie for 5-10 minutes total, so I don't have to focus on that for long. It was amusing seeing several people in my audience shake their heads when they kissed though. Luckily we have the interesting blossoming romance between Vision and Wanda that gets more focus. Now they are a fascinating pair.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: Hype cannot be contained...A+

Memorable Quote: "I can't control their fear, only my own." - Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen)