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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Review: ‘America’ great

Though it’s called the Marvel Cinematic Universe, apparently not enough villains are out there. Taking a graphic-novel page from “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” it’s Captain America versus Iron Man in “Captain America: Civil War.” The good guy-bad guy switcheroo plot is taken from the mats of World Wrestling Entertainment, where roles can be flipped like a ring girl’s sign.

The jump-off for “Captain America: Civil War” has to do with a government required pre-approval of The Avengers’ actions, much to the liking of Tony Stark-Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and opposed by Steve Rogers-Captain America (Chris Evans).

“Captain America: Civil War” makes up for the thin plot in action, quippy dialogue and spectacular cinematrography (it’s extra crisp) by Trent Opaloch (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”; “Elysium,” 2012; “District 9,” 2009) and head-spinning editing. There are more than enough battle scenes (too many for this reviewer) to please fans. Fan boys and girls will like the expanded roles of Sam Wilson-Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Lt. James Rhodes-War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Wanda Maximoff-Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and the inclusion of T’Challa-Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman).

Brothers Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” 2014) direct from a screenplay cowritten by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”; “Captain America: The First Avenger,” 2011; “The Chronicles of Narnia,” 2010, 2088, 2005) based on the comic book, “Captain America: Civil War” (2016) by Mark Millar and Marvel Comics characters created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Downey again does his best Tony Snark, er, Stark-Iron Man. Evans is fine as Rogers-Captain. Scarlett Johansson seems less present as Natasha Romanoff-Black Widow, but when onscreen, she has great presence. Sebastian Stan captures the conflicted Bucky Barnes-Winter Soldier. Paul Bettany is effectively enigmatic as Vision. Paul Rudd is again a hoot as Scott Lang-Ant-Man. Jeremy Renner has a small role as Clint Barton-Hawkeye. Peter Parker-Spider-Man (with Tom Holland taking up the web-spinner’s antics) has quite a bit of screen time and a new Aunt May (Marissa Tomei succeeds Sally Field).

There’s also William Hurt (Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross), John Slattery (Howard Stark) and Hope Davis (Maria Stark) amd Alfre Woodard.

The Marvel Universe is ever-expanding. The Russos are back to direct “Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1 and 2,” 2018, 2019, respectively.

“Captain America: Civil War,”MPAA Rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13.) for extended sequences of violence, action and mayhem; Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction; Run time: 2 hrs. 27 mins.; Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:Stan Lee has a cameo as FedEx Driver in “Captain America: Civil War,” which was filmed in Berlin and Leipzig-Halle Airport, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany; Brazil; Puerto Rico, and Georgia. Stay for scenes at the beginning and very end of the closing credits.

Box Office,May 13: The Friday the 13th weekend was lucky for ”Captain America: Civil War,” No. 1 two weeks straight, with $72.5 million, $295.8 million, two weeks; with “The Jungle Book” continuing at No. 2 with $17.7 million, $311.7 million, five weeks, keeping “Money Monster” opening at No. 3 with $15 million, and “The Darkness” opening at No. 4 with $5.1 million. 5. “Mother’s Day,” $3.2 million, $28.7 million, three weeks; 6. “Zootopia,” $2.8 million, $331.8 million, 11 weeks; 7. “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” $2.5 million, $44.5 million, four weeks; 8. “Keanu,” $1.9 million, $18.6 million, three weeks; 9. “Barbershop: The Next Cut,” $1.6 million; $51.3 million, five weeks; 10. “The Boss,” $1.1 million, $61.1 million, six weeks;

Unreel,May 20:

“The Angry Birds Movie,”PG: Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly direct the voice talents of Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess, Jason Sudeikis and Keegan-Michael Key in the animation feature comedy based on the video game series.

“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,”R: Nicholas Stoller directs Chloë Grace Moretz, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne and Selena Gomez in the comedy sequel about what happens when a sorority moves next door to a family.

“The Nice Guys,”R: Shane Black directs: Ryan Gosling, Matt Bomer, Kim Basinger and Russell Crowe in the caper comedy about a private eye investigating the apparent suicide of a fading adult film star in 1970s Los Angeles.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes