I’ll try to keep this review simple and spoiler-free.
It’s funny how I’d give Cap 2 about the same rating as Guardians of the Galaxy, but for completely different reasons. Basically, Guardians worked because it was silly and fun, and it knew how to handle that. Cap 2 worked because it was dramatic and mysterious, and it knew how to handle that. I generally like my super hero movies to be light and fun, but this one just keeps the audience engaged in the mysteries of S.H.I.E.L.D. and its enemies, and I felt compelled to try to figure it all out. The drama between characters strangely works because it is handled very carefully, and the light banter between Cap and Black Widow is brilliant.
It’s hard to say why I’m not giving this film a higher rating, but even though I think the stressful time I was having while watching it (for unrelated reasons) may have skewed my view of the film, the fun, colorful feeling I like a superhero movie to have (see Guardians, Burton’s Batman, ‘66’s Batman, Doctor Who: The Movie, Big Hero 6, etc.) just isn’t there. It feels rather pale, like it’s trying to look a little bit like The Dark Knight in terms of lighting and color. While there are certainly fun moments, the movie might be taking itself a little too seriously overall.
If you like a movie that keeps your mind working and is packed with surprises and suspense, you’ll enjoy this one. (Just be sure to catch up on the Marvel films that precede it – otherwise it won’t be half as fun.)
