Review: Captain America 2

Captain America: The Winter Soldier  is Marvel’s newest blockbuster released like clockwork in a larger franchise that includes Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy.

In this instalment, directors Anthony and Joe Russo put all-American war hero Steve Rogers (better known as Captain America, played by the old-school charming and handsome Chris Evans) under the microscope as he goes through the pains of superhero puberty – dealing with the universe’s various crises, coming to terms with his past, embracing a new world, and learning to well, socialize.

And the Russo brothers have done a great job humanizing our hero. Gone are the impressions of a perfectly righteous, rigid hero-robot but rather a witty, sarcastic and little cynical fellow. His disapproval of Nick Fury’s plans to subdue ne’er-do-wells before the crime is even committed shows that he’s not just another government weapon, while his ineffective attempts to flirt paints the portrait of a person we can actually relate to.

The plot thickens with the introduction of the Winter Soldier (played by Sebastian Stan), the mysterious antagonist and lynchpin behind the Hydra organization (think the Illuminati of Captain America’s universe) and calls into doubt the things Captain America stands for, ultimately culminating into a suspenseful climax.

Chris Evans’ stoic acting carries the show and the rest of the cast aren’t slouches either. With Scarlett Johansson’s caustic wit delivered in sharp quips and Samuel L. Jackson’s deadpan seriousness (reminds us of his legendary character Jules Winnfield), the movie is a great blend of action and comedy. Add to that a great score by Henry Jackson and a few well-placed cameos, we’ve got a crowd-pleaser.

Those looking for thought-provoking social commentary will find in the film measured doses such as allusions to Big Brother surveillance, weapons of mass destruction and Man playing God allegories, but for everything else, Captain America: The Winter Soldier feels like a fun summer blockbuster entertainment.

Rating: 4/5

Release Date: April 4 2014

Runtime: 136 minutes

Language: English

Censorship rating:

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Main actors: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson