Chrisicisms
To be fair, if you wanted a superhero movie that really summed up this election, you’d probably be best to go with “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” in which two angry, unlikable monsters destroy everything in their path as they fight each other. But I put viewing that movie on the same level as voting for either candidate: life’s too short to make such a bad call.
Rather, I’d recommend you make yours Marvel. The studio’s latest blockbuster, “Captain America: Civil War” tackles many of the same themes as the DC disaster, but does so with much more charm. Having nearly a decade’s worth of films to draw from, it centers its clash on two beloved characters. It draws its conflict not from macho-preening but from the way Captain America and Tony Stark’s ideologies cause them to butt heads, first civilly and then violently. During a time where I’m seeing friends and family scream and yell at each other over political disagreements, it feels like the latest “Captain America” film is a metaphor for our overheated climate. As the superheroes fight while refusing to kill each other, we have a picture of how disagreements might be necessary, but we don’t have to destroy us. And in the final fight, as the two Avengers leaders brutally go at each other, we see how what starts as a fight of ideals can turn deadly through emotion and pride.
Or maybe I’m reaching.
If I am, consider “Civil War” to be a respite. Because it’s a cool, fun movie. You’re going to meet Black Panther. You’re going to see pretty much every Avenger get involved in one of the most fun and geeky brawls on the big screen. You’re going to see the best big-screen Spider-man we have tussle with Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. Both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans give the best performances of their superhero careers. Few studios do big picture storytelling as well as Marvel. It may be product, but more often than not, it’s product that delivers.
But really, that other stuff is there.
“Captain America: Civil War” is available for rent and purchase physically and on most digital platforms.
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