'Captain America: Brave New World' Review: A Flawed, But Strong Step Forward
Marvel kicks off their exciting 2025 lineup with ‘Captain America: Brave New World’, a sequel that doesn’t break any thrilling new ground, but delivers a strong, street-level MCU film that should please fans and casual viewers.
Following the events of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Disney+ series, Captain America: Brave New World reunites audiences with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), who has now taken the mantle of Captain America from Steve Rogers, settling into the new position well, albeit with a strong case of imposter syndrome. However, he’s faced with his biggest threat yet that involves a nefarious political conspiracy and global threat brought on by a shadowy figure pulling all the strings. Sam must work in tandem with the new President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) in order to take down this threat before it spells global destruction.
After a tumultuous production rumored to have countless re-shoots and re-writes, audiences finally get to lay their eyes on the final product this weekend. Fortunately, what could’ve easily been a cobbled together mess is actually another strong step forward for Marvel after the immense success of Deadpool and Wolverine last summer. This is due in large part to strong direction and a cast that is more than game for the material. Mackie’s Sam Wilson has long been one of the MCU’s most underrated and underutilized characters so to see the character take on his own standalone film is a welcome surprise. Mackie continues to be fantastic in the role, delivering the gravitas and warmth that is reminiscent of Chris Evans’ Captain America, consistently reaffirming that Steve absolutely made the right choice in passing the torch to him. The film’s exploration of Sam’s insecurities about taking on that mantle lead to some of its strongest scenes, Mackie nailing the anguish and self-doubt, especially as the stakes become exponentially higher.
The supporting performances are also very strong here. Danny Ramirez’ Falcon continues to be a treat, the actor’s easygoing charm and charisma making him a stellar new addition to this world. His electric chemistry with Mackie is simply the cherry on top. Ford is also terrific here, taking over the role of Thaddeus Ross from the late, great William Hurt. Not only does he not remotely phone in this performance, but he adds new, more emotionally compelling wrinkles to a character that was disappointingly one-note in his previous appearances despite Hurt’s best efforts. His scenes with Mackie’s Wilson are some of the strongest in the film, their friction and opposing views making each of their interactions compelling and emotionally charged. Though they’re not given much to work with, Tim Blake Nelson, returning after his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk, and Giancarlo Esposito make the most of their screen time regardless.
As for the film itself, the overall atmosphere is very reminiscent of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and its all the better for it. The tension, suspense, and paranoia permeating every frame of the film is palpable, a refreshing change of pace compared to a lot of Marvel’s recent output. The film’s set pieces also benefit from this decision, leading to more street-level, grounded action sequences that feel far more tactile and visceral than one would expect. There are several combat sequences that are beautifully staged, shot, and choreographed, wonderfully showcasing Wilson’s skillset and versatile new suit that makes him imposing to just about any enemy he comes into contact with. Even the more big-budget, eye-catching set pieces feel energized and propulsive, especially the highly anticipated Red Hulk sequence that is sure to not disappoint any comic book fan. Simply put, this is an exciting, well-paced Marvel film that will keep audiences awake and engaged throughout.
Also a welcomed change of pace is the signficiantly reduced use of humor here. One of the MCU’s biggest issues is the heavy-handed use of humor that often undercuts their films’ most emotionally devastating moments. Fortunately, Marvel seems to be evolving and maturing, letting those moments breathe and giving them the weight and impact they deserve and can deliver. This is especially noticeable in the scenes between Sam and Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), the latter still reeling from the trauma and disrespect he received from his country after serving it proudly for so many years. Their scenes together are not only warm, but heartbreaking as well. Less is more when it comes to the humor and it’s used sparingly here and to much better effect to relieve some tension when necessary.
However, not everything works in this fourth Captain America film. First and foremost, this feels far more like a sequel to The Incredible Hulk than it does a Captain America film. After seventeen years, it feels like it’s a case of too little too late when it comes to picking up and following through on the dangling threads and characters from that mostly forgotten film. When this installment focuses on those elements, it becomes far less engrossing, but when it shifts that focus to Sam and his personal journey, it becomes a far better film. As a result, Sam feels as if he’s placed in the backseat in his own film, a deeply disheartening flaw of the storytelling. The film also shoehorns in an element from Marvel’s Eternals, one of their most divisive films, in order to complete their apology tour of treating both of these movies like the black sheep of their family.
The villain of the film is also incredibly underwhelming. While bringing back Nelson’s Samuel Sterns from the 2008 Hulk film was an intriguing chess piece to put on the board, he doesn’t register as much of a threat. Sure, he’s playing a successful mind game with many of the individuals in power, but whenever he’s on screen, he doesn’t amount to much. The trajectory of his story is very predictable and uninteresting, resulting in yet another Marvel villain that can’t leave the sizable impact he should on the MCU. The same can be said for Esposito’s Sidewinder, a villain that also is wasted and underdeveloped. The veteran actor is clearly having fun in the role, but his talent is squandered throughout.
The main issue with the film though is its script, which is a bit of a mess, not a surprise when there were five writers who penned this entry. So many story threads are introduced and underdeveloped, feeling as if they were significantly reduced or re-written in order to incorporate other story elements. There are too many ideas and avenues that simply aren’t explored or fleshed out enough to justify their placement in the story, resulting in a film that feels overstuffed, scattered and unfocused.
Captain America: Brave New World may not be the best or most memorable installment in the Marvel canon, but there is plenty of entertainment value and winning performances to make it a worthwhile watch for avid fans. Mackie’s Cap has boundless potential and the road ahead that has been paved for him is exciting to say the least. With Mackie at the helm of this character, fans can rest assured that the power and emotional draw of Captain America isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.