Such is the elasticity of the Marvel brand in the hands of the right directors; in this instance, it’s the Russo brothers, back in the saddle following Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a thoroughly satisfying mix of conspiracy thriller and CGI action banquet. Civil War is more of the same, yet this instalment feels, if anything, closer to an Avengers sequel than a Cap sequel – this is far more of an ensemble piece than Steve Rogers’ top billing might suggest. Steve Rogers, similarly galvanised by his own sense of justice, believes the Avengers should remain unfettered by the whims of corruptible politicians. Battle lines are swiftly drawn, and a war of words soon devolves into an outright war of independence, with the likes of War Machine, Black Widow and Vision siding with Stark and Falcon, Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye aligning with Cap. Naturally, there’s lots more to Civil War, yet the plot remains brisk even with the film’s hefty 150 minute duration. This is partly because the Russo brothers again manage to make their action set-pieces build from the intimate (in Marvel terms) to the sprawling and explosion-laden. The grit and gloom of ordinary-looking locations, from dingy bunkers in Siberia to run-down tenements in Berlin, contrast pleasingly with the slick costumes and square jaws of our heroes. Like The Winter Soldier, Civil War explores all kinds of current concerns – terrorism, the misuse of military might, state control – with a lightness of touch. The specifics of Sokovia Accords treaty may go over some younger audience members’ heads, but it’s not the film’s aim to beat us over the head with capital-M messages. Civil War simply suggests that some battles aren’t simply good-versus-evil, and that decisions made in the past can affect the present in dire, unforeseeable ways. It’s this satisfying mix of heavy and light tones which keeps Civil War feeling fresh. It’s action-heavy, particularly in its opening and closing acts, yet writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely find plenty of moments where the characters behind the symbols and fancy outfits are given a chance to shine. In some instances, these are the bits that stick in the mind the most; Tom Holland’s new Spider-Man is introduced not with a bang, but in a captivatingly loose, natural-feeling scene which somehow makes the character seem as though he’s been in the MCU all along. There’s a spark of quirky chemistry between Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany in their scenes as off-duty Wanda Maximoff and Vision. Then there’s newcomer Chadwick Boseman, prince of Wakanda and agile superhero Black Panther. He gets a pretty spectacular early sequence where he sprints after a motorcycle, but again, it’s a scene he shares with Bruhl’s villain that reveals a human, compelling side to both characters. In short, Civil War delivers the spectacle that movie-goers will expect, but remembers that it’s the characters that are the Marvel universe’s greatest strength. The Avengers may be superheroes, but they all have quirks we can all recognise – from Stark’s egotism to Vision’s ineptitude in the kitchen. It’s these human touches that make Captain America: Civil War such an entertaining two-and-a-half hours, and an effective launch-pad for yet more movies to come. Captain America: Civil War is out in UK cinemas on the 29th April.
