The Marvel Cinematic Universe returns to its regularly scheduled programming after taking a year off to recover from the loss of the next big bad villain and a line of releases that lacked the coherence, and frankly entertainment value, of the series leading up to Avengers: Endgame. I wish I could say that Captain America: Brave New World recaptures former glory, but I regret to report that, while an entertaining spectacle of a movie, fails to deliver in some key storytelling aspects. This post contains commissioned links, and by reading beyond this point you are agreeing to our updated privacy information.
First the good:
Ya'll this post is clearly written by the hubs...
Captain America: Brave New World was magnificent on the IMAX screen. Airborne special effects following Captain America, Falcon, fighter jets, and Red Hulk (Hulks come in more than green) are dizzying and had me holding my breath throughout. (I have to shout out to my former US Navy fighter squadron VFA-213 Blacklions, who make a cameo.) Fight scenes were exciting with a new Vibranium enhanced flying suit for Captain America, but a dash of vulnerability as the main hero does not have super-hero enhancements. Fan-service moments are dashed throughout, but nowhere near the scale of last years Deadpool and Wolverine. When the post-credit scene wrapped, I had thoroughly enjoyed myself
Anthony Mackie once again delivers a solid performance as Captain America, with solid comedy takes coming from the new Falcon played by Danny Ramirez. Harrison Ford is excellent throughout (of course) as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross originally played William Hurt, who passed away in 2022. I appreciated that Ford did not try to recreate Hurt's incredible mustache. Super solder Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), former assassin Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas), and new villain Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) round out the competent main cast. Solid to great performances all around.
I also appreciated that the director/writers/producer had actually watched some of the Disney+ shows leading up to this movie. Unlike the jarring lack of continuity from Dr. Strange: Multiverse of Madness, Captain America continues storylines from Falcon and Winter Soldier (absolute minimum), the earlier Hulk movies (has it already been 17 years?!?), and the Eternals. A semblance of coherence for the next phase of the MCU began to emerge
Unfortunately, the not-as-good:
The movie lacked development of the villain, Samuel Sterns, who can manipulate events by calculating enormous amount of probabilities. How he acquired the abilities, and why he is seeking revenge are glossed over quickly and taken as a given. Ross was mean to him, so he wants revenge. The decisions of Samuel Sterns are really inexplicable throughout for someone who has a prescient knowledge of events.
The movie never decides what kind of movie it is? Blockbuster? Spy movie? Political thriller? Redemption Arc? At some points, it feels like scenes towards the end were cut from the middle and vice versa.
Overall and bottom line:
Captain America: Brave New World is a great day at the movies. There is some cursing throughout (s-bombs) and blood and death on the screen. My teenage girl loved it. While Captain America: Brave New World does not clear the impossibly high bar of the best Avengers Infinity Saga movies, it entertains throughout and moves the current phase's plot forward in some interesting ways.
NERDY POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT: It occurred to me that the confusing behavior of Samuel Sterns throughout the long-game as he prepares the world for whatever big-bad is coming along for future Avengers movies.
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