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Sam Wilson has had one of the most tumultuous arcs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and his ascension to the mantle of Captain America was anything but smooth. But while Captain America: Brave New World aims to cement his legacy, it often feels weighed down by Marvel’s past rather than soaring into its own future.
Marvel touts Brave New World as a “political thriller,” but its attempts at weighty themes feel undercooked. The film gestures toward real-world divisions, asking if unity is possible in an increasingly fractured society, yet it shies away from any substantive critique. The film presents a “Can’t we all just get along?” message but avoids directly confronting the real-world issues it lightly gestures at.
Harrison Ford’s (Blade Runner, Starwars) turn as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross is a fascinating presence—both a political power player and an inevitable ticking time bomb—but the film ultimately uses him more as spectacle than substance. Given how grump Mr Ford is in real life, he gives this gig a fair crack.
If there’s one thing that keeps Brave New World from completely collapsing under its own weight, it’s the performances. Mackie continues to embody Sam Wilson with warmth and conviction, emphasizing his humanity and leadership. His mentorship of Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) is one of the film’s more engaging subplots, even though Torres mostly serves as a sidekick with little agency of his own.
Carl Lumbly once again delivers a powerful turn as Isaiah Bradley, but his arc feels disappointingly redundant for those who have seen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. His character serves as a cautionary figure, warning Sam about misplaced trust in the government. However, his screen time is minimal, and the film struggles to balance the weight of his history with its broader action-driven plot. A prison visitation scene between Sam and Isaiah carries emotional weight, but the film undercuts it by introducing Bradley with an ill-timed joke about his imprisonment.
Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Ross is a standout, bringing a mix of gravitas and gruff charisma, while Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns finally transitions into The Leader, offering a memorably eerie presence even if his role feels underdeveloped. The film builds up the Leader as a key antagonist, but his actions never amount to a real threat, making his presence feel like setup for future projects rather than a compelling part of this story.
On a technical level, Brave New World is functional but uninspired. The action sequences, while serviceable, lack the innovation seen in other MCU entries. The film rarely takes advantage of Sam’s unique fighting style, and despite some mid-air thrills, the set pieces feel restrained.
Marvel has often struggled with CGI consistency, and Brave New World is no exception. The overall aesthetic is uneven—Cap’s new suit is a highlight, but Falcon’s costume looks like a lost Mandalorian extra, and Shira Haas’ Ruth Bat-Seraph barely registers beyond her functionary role.
Despite its promising premise and committed performances, Captain America: Brave New World struggles to justify its existence beyond being another cog in the MCU machine. It neither fully embraces the political complexities it hints at nor delivers the action spectacle audiences expect. While Anthony Mackie’s Cap is a compelling and worthy successor, he deserves a film that dares to break new ground rather than one that merely recycles the past.
While not as disastrous as Eternals or Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Brave New World still exemplifies Marvel’s ongoing identity crisis, where the franchise’s nostalgic recycling often outweighs its creativity.
Score: 6/10
Sam Wilson has had one of the most tumultuous arcs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and his ascension to the mantle of Captain America was anything but smooth. But while Captain America: Brave New World aims to cement his legacy, it often feels weighed down by Marvel’s past rather than soaring into its own future.
Anthony Mackie’s first cinematic outing as Cap had the opportunity to redefine the character for a new era, but instead, it finds itself retreating to familiar territory, echoing the beats of Captain America: The Winter Soldier without matching its impact.
Marvel has not always been successful when its supporting characters have stepped up to lead roles. Even in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie (Hurt Locker) and Sebastian Stan’s charisma and chemistry were hamstrung by a messy script and shifting priorities. Brave New World at least offers Mackie a stronger and more focused story, yet it still struggles to break free from Marvel’s increasingly formulaic structure.
Marvel has not always been successful when its supporting characters have stepped up to lead roles. Even in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie (Hurt Locker) and Sebastian Stan’s charisma and chemistry were hamstrung by a messy script and shifting priorities. Brave New World at least offers Mackie a stronger and more focused story, yet it still struggles to break free from Marvel’s increasingly formulaic structure.
One of the film’s biggest challenges is the overwhelming density of the MCU’s ever-expanding lore. With over 40 interconnected films and television series, Brave New World feels obligated to catch audiences up on decade-old plotlines, often in clumsy expository dumps. The title suggests bold new territory, but the film quickly reverts to familiar Marvel tropes. Almost immediately, archival footage and newscasts rehash past events with a “Previously on…” approach, giving the impression that Marvel Studios hopes recycled nostalgia will suffice in place of meaningful storytelling.
Building a new story out of mostly old parts is nothing new in Hollywood, but Brave New World feels especially uninspired in how it pecks around the Sacred Timeline for structure. The film leans heavily on the Winter Soldier template—political intrigue, secret military outposts, double agents—without adding much that feels fresh.
Building a new story out of mostly old parts is nothing new in Hollywood, but Brave New World feels especially uninspired in how it pecks around the Sacred Timeline for structure. The film leans heavily on the Winter Soldier template—political intrigue, secret military outposts, double agents—without adding much that feels fresh.
Marvel touts Brave New World as a “political thriller,” but its attempts at weighty themes feel undercooked. The film gestures toward real-world divisions, asking if unity is possible in an increasingly fractured society, yet it shies away from any substantive critique. The film presents a “Can’t we all just get along?” message but avoids directly confronting the real-world issues it lightly gestures at.
Harrison Ford’s (Blade Runner, Starwars) turn as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross is a fascinating presence—both a political power player and an inevitable ticking time bomb—but the film ultimately uses him more as spectacle than substance. Given how grump Mr Ford is in real life, he gives this gig a fair crack.
The narrative’s setup has potential, especially in Ross’ attempts to broker an international accord while facing an assassination attempt, but Brave New World doesn’t fully explore the deeper implications of its geopolitical conflicts. His transformation into Red Hulk, spoiled by marketing well before the film’s release, ends up as a predictable moment rather than an impactful surprise.
Like c'mon my dudes, how cool would have the surprise reveal been?
Meanwhile, Sam’s conflicts with the government and his attempts to define his role as Captain America have potential but lack the urgency and depth needed to make them resonate. Sam's struggle is supposed to be about proving that Captain America does not need super-soldier serum to be a hero. Yet, the film undermines this idea by emphasizing his need for technological upgrades, including a shield enhancement taken straight from Black Panther’s playbook. Instead of highlighting Sam's unique qualities, it often feels like he's being retrofitted into Steve Rogers' mold.
Meanwhile, Sam’s conflicts with the government and his attempts to define his role as Captain America have potential but lack the urgency and depth needed to make them resonate. Sam's struggle is supposed to be about proving that Captain America does not need super-soldier serum to be a hero. Yet, the film undermines this idea by emphasizing his need for technological upgrades, including a shield enhancement taken straight from Black Panther’s playbook. Instead of highlighting Sam's unique qualities, it often feels like he's being retrofitted into Steve Rogers' mold.
If there’s one thing that keeps Brave New World from completely collapsing under its own weight, it’s the performances. Mackie continues to embody Sam Wilson with warmth and conviction, emphasizing his humanity and leadership. His mentorship of Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) is one of the film’s more engaging subplots, even though Torres mostly serves as a sidekick with little agency of his own.
Carl Lumbly once again delivers a powerful turn as Isaiah Bradley, but his arc feels disappointingly redundant for those who have seen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. His character serves as a cautionary figure, warning Sam about misplaced trust in the government. However, his screen time is minimal, and the film struggles to balance the weight of his history with its broader action-driven plot. A prison visitation scene between Sam and Isaiah carries emotional weight, but the film undercuts it by introducing Bradley with an ill-timed joke about his imprisonment.
Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Ross is a standout, bringing a mix of gravitas and gruff charisma, while Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns finally transitions into The Leader, offering a memorably eerie presence even if his role feels underdeveloped. The film builds up the Leader as a key antagonist, but his actions never amount to a real threat, making his presence feel like setup for future projects rather than a compelling part of this story.
On a technical level, Brave New World is functional but uninspired. The action sequences, while serviceable, lack the innovation seen in other MCU entries. The film rarely takes advantage of Sam’s unique fighting style, and despite some mid-air thrills, the set pieces feel restrained.
Marvel has often struggled with CGI consistency, and Brave New World is no exception. The overall aesthetic is uneven—Cap’s new suit is a highlight, but Falcon’s costume looks like a lost Mandalorian extra, and Shira Haas’ Ruth Bat-Seraph barely registers beyond her functionary role.
Despite its promising premise and committed performances, Captain America: Brave New World struggles to justify its existence beyond being another cog in the MCU machine. It neither fully embraces the political complexities it hints at nor delivers the action spectacle audiences expect. While Anthony Mackie’s Cap is a compelling and worthy successor, he deserves a film that dares to break new ground rather than one that merely recycles the past.
While not as disastrous as Eternals or Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Brave New World still exemplifies Marvel’s ongoing identity crisis, where the franchise’s nostalgic recycling often outweighs its creativity.
Score: 6/10
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