For a movie that marks the 35th entry in a cinematic franchise, the general consensus on Captain America: Brave New World being just “fine,” “okay,” or “a good enough Marvel movie” is disappointing. A film of this magnitude shouldn’t settle for just being okay—that’s simply not good enough.
Anthony Mackie returns as Sam Wilson, now officially taking up the mantle of Captain America. After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself caught in the middle of an international incident. He must uncover the truth behind a sinister global plot before the true mastermind plunges the world into chaos.
The Positives
Before diving into what really bothered me about this film, I want to highlight some positives. First and foremost, Anthony Mackie absolutely proves he can lead the Avengers as Captain America in this next phase of the MCU. His presence, charisma, and dedication to the role shine through.
The air combat sequences featuring both Captain America and Falcon are visually well-executed. They’re dynamic, well-shot, and some of the film’s strongest moments. The action, for the most part, is engaging—though at times, it’s over-edited—but it did manage to bring some excitement. And Red Hulk? He’s undeniably cool… for the five minutes he’s in the movie.
The Issues
And that brings me to my biggest issue—Red Hulk. The marketing heavily leaned on his presence, yet the movie treats his reveal as some massive twist, even though the audience is ahead of the film the entire time. By the time the third act rolls around, we know exactly what’s coming, making the climax feel predictable and underwhelming.
I’m also baffled by the film’s reliance on The Incredible Hulk (2008), one of the least rewatched MCU movies, as a major foundation for the story. It almost feels like Brave New World is more interested in being a sequel to that film rather than a Captain America movie. As a result, Sam Wilson—our new Captain America—often feels like an afterthought in his own film.
On top of that, so much of Captain America: Brave New World retells the self-discovery journey Sam already went through in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. We’re once again reminded that he doubts himself as Captain America because he doesn’t have the Super Soldier Serum or because he’s African American. While these themes were important in the Disney+ series, here they feel rehashed—almost as if they were included just in case some audience members didn’t watch the show.
The dialogue is about as subtle as a hammer. The film constantly tells us exactly what’s happening, where we are, and who the villain is, leaving nothing for the audience to figure out in this so-called political thriller mystery. It’s as dumbed down as it gets. But that’s not surprising when you consider that Brave New World had five credited writers, leading to a script that feels like five different visions clashing.
Harrison Ford is solid as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, but I have to be honest—William Hurt had a stronger military presence in the role. Ford mostly comes across as his usual grumpy old-man self rather than fully embodying the character.
The reshoots are also glaringly obvious, especially with Giancarlo Esposito’s character, Serpent, whose presence feels tacked on. And the post-credits scene? Easily a top five worst in MCU history.
Also, the movie tries to convince us that a 5’1”, 100-pound woman can body slam a grown man. Sure.
Final Thoughts
To the film’s credit, it does feel like it’s pushing the MCU forward, which is more than can be said for a lot of recent entries. But even the exciting setups it introduces ultimately fall flat. I really wanted to like Captain America: Brave New World. My expectations weren’t even that high, yet the film still managed to disappoint. Anthony Mackie is incredible as Captain America, and his passion for the character deserves a far better movie. But unfortunately, Brave New World treats Cap as an afterthought, prioritizing a sequel to a 17-year-old film for no apparent reason. No amount of reshoots could have saved this movie, and it genuinely pains me to say that. The MCU is my favorite movie franchise of all time, and it’s frustrating to see that we’ve reached a point where just an average movie is something we’re expected to get excited about. I don’t think so.
2.5/5
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Movies have always been a huge part of my life. I can remember the first movie I saw in theatres was Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2002. And from there I fell in love with movies. I tried to watch as many different types of movies as I can to get myself a well-rounded film palette, but I just love going to the movies and just sitting down and escaping to a world for a couple of hours. I’m just a normal dude who decided to start talking about movies in front of a camera and some people decided they like to listen to me.
My 4 favorite movies are: Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith, Training Day, The Matrix.