While Captain America: Brave New World might be one of Marvel’s lowest-rated films, averaging poorly among critics, it seems audiences love it, propelling it to the top of this weekend’s list of top-grossing films.
And for good reason.
Anthony Mackie, fulfilling his destiny as Captain America, turns in a fine performance, making the audience feel every ounce of the pressure on his back as a black superhero in America. It’s an enormous weight on his shoulders and Mackie’s performance is one for the ages. Harrison Ford, stepping in the role which was made famous by the recently deceased William Hurt, plays Thaddeous Ross, who has just been elected President of the United States. Considering these two and their history together, trust is not easily earned.
But, with The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson) and Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito) on the loose, it seems these two are going to have to put aside their past differences and attempt to unite their visions for the future before it is too late. Co-starring Shira Haas, who plays Ruth Bat-Seraph, and Danny Ramirez, the successor to Mackie's Falcon,
Captain America: Brave New World is a well-written thriller full of political intrigue and only a smattering of superhero antics as it operates more as a gritty sequel to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier miniseries and a long-gestating follow-up to The Incredible Hulk, the forgotten MCU film which starred Edward Norton as scientist Bruce Banner while also finally commenting on the events of The Eternals as a race to lay claim to The Celestial and the adamantium within its core.
Sure, this thriller pushes the MCU further into its ramping up of its much-teased Doomsday scenario, but - with all these politics at play - it seems The Manchurian Candidate might be a more reasonable place to start as things get heated with an assassination attempt on President Ross’ life, which sees Carl Lumbly returning as Isaiah Bradley, a super-soldier turned killer . . . or is something else at work here?
Directed by Julius Onah, Captain America: Brave New World might not be as emotional as some of the other Marvel movies, but it hits the ground running and never falters in its attempt to be a political potboiler. Unfortunately, things get a bit clumsy when Red Hulk reveals himself. Sure, it might play a few of its plot points safe, but there’s no denying that it is carrying the Captain America mantle.
It’s when we talk of all sorts of gamma radiation that things get a bit choppy, reminding audiences that, yes, yes, this is all make-believe. Maybe Mackie deserved a more fitting Captain America sequel than the Hulk-sized sequel we get here, but - honestly - everything works to create a film for the moment.
Captain America: Brave New World probably could have afforded to be a bit more risky in some of its narrative developments, but it is not the mess that some critics are making it out to be.
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 118 mins
Director: Julius Onah
Writer: Rob Edwards; Malcolm Spellman
Cast: Anthony Mackie; Harrison Ford; Danny Ramirez
Genre: Action | Superhero
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Global power is shifting. You're just a pawn."
Distributor: Walt Disney/Marvel
Official Site:
Release Date: February 14, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, finds himself in the middle of an international incident and must discover the motive behind a nefarious global plan.
