Captain America: Brave New World – Film Review
I really wanted Anthony Mackie‘s first film outing as Captain America to be good – and to mark a promising change in fortune for Marvel – so I’m disappointed to report that Captain America: Brave New World is underwhelming.
Following on from the events of the 2021 TV series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson is now Captain America, although he crucially does not possess the superhuman powers of his predecessor Steve Rogers. He wrestles with his new title, wondering if he is worthy of it, but he gets an opportunity to prove himself when he and now-U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford, replacing the late William Hurt) become involved in an incident that could potentially start a new war.
I’ve kept the plot vague to avoid spoilers but also because I couldn’t tell you the specifics even if I wanted to. The story is cobbled together and convoluted and I struggled to follow it. The narrative is the biggest letdown here; although there are some shining moments, the overall story is just so dull and flat.
The film’s fatal flaw is Marvel’s assumption that everybody remembers everything that has happened in all 35 MCU films (plus TV spin-offs). You must do your homework! I watched The Falcon and The Winter Soldier when it came out on Disney+ in 2021 and I’ve forgotten it already. So I had absolutely no hope of remembering what happened in The Incredible Hulk after 17 years! Bringing a villain out of the woodwork after that long is just unfair. How do they expect us to remember?! I understand its relevance to Ross’ story and I got by OK without a rewatch but I did not care about Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson). Do yourselves a favour and watch it again beforehand!
Mackie is charming and likeable enough as the new Cap but he is failed by the script and the unengaging fight sequences. He is given hardly any opportunity to inject his character with personality, emotional depth or a sense of humour. With the action sequences, there are a few cool stunts with the shield but they mostly fail to elicit excitement. Danny Ramirez tries his best as Mackie’s sidekick and the new Falcon, Joaquin Torres, but he is not given a chance to become a full person. Ford fares better and really throws himself into Ross, even if he is let down by the CGI.
The visuals in the MCU used to be so clear and flawless and now they’re murky and often unconvincing. How are we going backwards?! I swear the usual green Hulk looked better in 2012’s The Avengers than the Red Hulk does here. This ruins his transformation scenes and climactic fights. In a similar vein, it’s hard to take Sterns seriously given his silly broccoli-headed appearance.
Captain America: Brave New World is functional and bland and seems to exist just to lay the foundations for the next Avengers film. Mackie deserves better than this.
In cinemas from Friday 14th February
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
