Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Stars and tropes forever.

By Jay Horton

Of all the four-color icons, Captain America should be the least open to interpretation. Ol' Winghead seemed a charming anachronism from the time Stan Lee assembled the uncanny freaks and amazing geeks of the Marvel Universe 50-some years ago, and the sheer strangeness of past generations' uncomplicated ideals fueled the unexpected delights of Captain America: The First Avenger. Alas, where the 2011 film found a dreamily compelling momentum somewhere between magical realism and newsreel propaganda, Captain America: The Winter Soldier wades through thankless cameos (Robert Redford? Emily VanCamp? Garry Shandling?) and interminable exposition (imagine Iron Man interrupted with discursive tangents about electrical engineering). The fractured plot pits the superspies of S.H.I.E.L.D. against Hydra's shadowy cabal and Cap against a steel-armed, greasy-maned assassin. The first film's foot chase through 1940s Brooklyn thrilled to Cap's newfound grace and athleticism, and once again, star Chris Evans' unaffected certitude and boyish self-regard suggest why a mortal might one day command the Marvel gods and monsters. But now his appealing mix of officer and gentleman has been reduced to frat-house moralizing. There's more setup for the surrounding saga: Sam "The Falcon" Wilson is deftly introduced, ScarJo's Black Widow finally has some backstory, and Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury is no longer just a framing device. For all the failings on display, the mighty Marvel machine rolls along. The Winter Soldier might not be much of a movie in and of itself, but maybe there are no second acts in Captain America's life.

Critic’s Grade:
C+

SEE IT: Captain America: The Winter Soldier is rated PG-13. It opens Friday at 99W Drive-In, Cedar Hills, Eastport, Clackamas, Cornelius, Oak Grove, Bridgeport, City Center, Division, Hilltop, Lloyd Center, Lloyd Mall, Pioneer Place, Sherwood, Tigard, Wilsonville, St. Johns.

WWeek 2015

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