THE STORY – Following the election of Thaddeus Ross as the president of the United States, Sam Wilson finds himself at the center of an international incident and must work to stop the true masterminds behind it.
THE CAST – Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson & Harrison Ford
THE TEAM – Julius Onah (Director/Writer), Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson & Peter Glanz (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 118 Minutes
It’s been six years since Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) gave Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) the shield, appointing him as the new Captain America. It has also been four years since Sam Wilson accepted the title and shield in the Disney+ miniseries “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Much has happened since we last saw Sam Wilson, and while the fate of the MCU (both in the universe and outside of it) may seem up in the air and on the downfall of the hill, “Captain America: Brave New World” plants its superhero landing somewhere in the middle ground.
Taking place after “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Sam Wilson is fully serving his country as Captain America. Unlike other post-“Endgame” MCU films, “Captain America: Brave New World” has some required viewing beforehand (cue the groans of those who don’t want to do “homework”). It may not be as important as, say, “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” which coincided with “WandaVision,” but one should have at least seen “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” prior to “Brave New World” to have an understanding of where the characters are at this point in the MCU—especially considering Wilson’s relationships with Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) and Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), who return from the series to star in the film. As Captain America, Wilson is offered to work under Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), now elected President of the United States. But Sam remembers the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and what happened when Ross disagreed with how the Avengers should be run and as a result, the Avengers broke up. So, as the new Captain America, should Sam serve under Ross again or follow his ideals and conviction to create a better new world? With with the dangerous Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito), the leader of the Serpent Society, on his tail, Sam is thrust into a conspiracy to assassinate the President where he will have to decide which side he’s on.
The Captain America films are always at their strongest when their core is centered in espionage and the political thriller genre. Kevin Feige knows this, and it seems apparent that director Julius Onah (“Luce“) also knows this. So, in those elements, “Brave New World” is a strong offering from Marvel, but it also has other elements that make it the weakest of the four installments. One reason may be that Disney is trying to play safe with its political messaging, especially considering today’s political climate. Taking one side is usually not the move a monopoly company like Disney/Marvel makes. As a result, while the main story is still suitable enough for a theatrical film versus another miniseries on Disney+, it is not as well defined as the messages from the previous Captain America films. But while this part of the film may sometimes be at war with the basic MCU spectacle modern audiences have come to expect, it is still a fun time for MCU fans. It just may be a bit tamer in context.
As far as performances go, Mackie is still as awesome as Wilson. While he is more secure with the Shield, there is still a bit of apprehension and pressure to live up to the legend of the title of Captain America, and on a meta-level, having Mackie take the mantle from Chris Evans. It’s terrific to see an ordinary man try to fit into the shoes of an extraordinary Super Soldier, and Mackie excels in that area as he continues to make Wilson relatable and endearing. Ramirez continues to have great chemistry with Mackie as Torres, still just as eager to help Wilson in any capacity. Lumbly, a standout from the 2021 miniseries, is just as strong here as Isaiah Bradley, who serves as the film’s emotional center. Emmy winner Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”) makes her MCU debut as Ruth Bat-Seraph, Ross’ Israeli head of security. But, like the overall plot and flow of the film, it falls victim to Disney trying to play both sides and completely rewrites and sidelines the character. Yet, Disney still keeps Seraph’s Israeli origin despite the massive rewrites and re-shoots the film underwent during production, which leads one to wonder if they’re trying to ignore the hot-button political climate we’re living in now regarding Israel and Palestine, or do they simply not care?
However, the real highlight is Ford as President Ross and what he brings to this film and the MCU moving forward. There is a gravitas, weariness, and emotional depth to his Ross, which makes it feel like an upgrade from the departed William Hurt. The film’s callbacks and tie-ins to 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk” are both welcome and a little unnecessary as they provide much for Ford to chew on and tie up loose ends from that time in the MCU (including the re-introduction of Tim Blake Nelson, now as the highly intellectual Leader). Still, they also take away from Mackie’s moment and feel like padding to compensate for characters Feige and the rest of the Marvel team are worried they cannot carry the film on their own. However, these “Hulk” inclusions lead to a smashing climax that is quite effective in terms of the action. Ford makes the most of the opportunity, opening the door for more intriguing storylines for his character in the future if he returns (let’s be honest, we know the Marvel money is good; he’ll be back).
“Captain America: Brave New World” is not stronger than the Russo Brothers’ films that preceded it, but it is also a solid big-screen debut for Anthony Mackie’s Captain America. Both statements can be true. The stunt coordination by Joey Box and Peter Epstein is lively and engaging – having Sam as Captain America allows the stunt team to focus more on aerial stunts than ever before. Like almost all of the films within the MCU, there are inconsistent visual effects throughout, where one can tell where the budget took priority. Additionally, the score by Laura Karpman is effective and appealing.
“Captain America: Brave New World” may not add anything new to the MCU canon. And it certainly isn’t brave in its storytelling, which makes the title a bit of a letdown for those expecting what the film is promising. It is unclear if Feige and Disney genuinely know where they’re going with the overall story of Phase Five. But this entry has its fun moments. It plays it safe, sticking to the broad themes Captain America highlights, but still serves as a solid big-screen installment to Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, who is now, finally, front and center (sort of) with the Shield.
