Captain America: Brave New World is a disappointing film that fails to create a distinct personality for the new Captain America. But it more than makes up for that by being insanely entertaining.
Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is the star of the fourth installment in the Captain America superhero series. He’s unsure if he should have taken on the responsibility of being the official superhero for the United States and carrying the shield that Steve Rogers gave him after Avengers: Endgame. After a recent assassination attempt on newly elected President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), former Super Soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), who was wrongfully imprisoned for 30 years so government scientists could use him as a test subject, is framed and swiftly sent back to prison. It’s up to Wilson and his new sidekick, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), to uncover the truth and unravel the mystery. Meanwhile, the nations are fighting over the gigantic dude in the middle of the ocean that contains Unobtanium – I mean Adamantium. The super metal that makes Wolerine’s bones unbreakable.
This conspiracy thriller could have been Three Days of the Condor or Winter Soldier. Instead, the film detours around political mind fields. Instead, settling for subtle shades and brief monologues about destiny and legacy.
However, many of these shortcomings are substantially lessened thanks to filmmaker Julius Onah’s steady and assured hand (The Cloverfield Paradox). Wilson and his possible new replacement, The Falcon, are featured in the opening action sequence, which is expertly done. President Ross ordered Captain America to retrieve a cache of adamantium that had been stolen from Celestial Island by a notorious criminal known only as Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito). This is because the MCU is finally dealing with the giant petrified body of Tiamut from the climax of Eternals.
The film opens with a stunning set piece filmed by cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau, featuring excellent stunt choreography and special effects. Visual depth is present throughout, except for a muted showdown between warships and aircraft at Celestial Island. Onah delivers most of the action with electricity.
However, the primary villain, Samuel Sterns, is a letdown, and the climax between President Ross and Wilson lacks emotional depth. While the two argued a lot, the movie relies on your memory of the President’s past. But having a different actor in the role (RIP Willaim Hurt) makes it hard to connect. However, the Red Hulk is an impressive creature, and every punch feels epic. Chest hair and all. Too bad the ending was spoiled by the marketing team to get butts in the seats.
There are dozens of films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some are brilliant, like Black Panther, and some are terrible, like The Eternals. Brave New World straddles the line between good and bad to become OK. I’ve seen it twice and it’s just as much fun the second time around.
The performances by Ford, Mackie, and Ramirez are solid, but the film struggles with moments of blandness and lacks a distinct personality. The plot is dense, involving multiple references to previous Marvel shows and last-minute plot twists. The film is neither grand nor groundbreaking but offers consistent and earned pleasures. The fresh score and performances by Mackie and Onah make it a decent political thriller. Captain America 4 is not brave, but it does introduce us to a new world of Marvel movies.
About Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
Official synopsis: “After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford in his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.”
Directed by Julius Onah and stars Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Giancarlo Esposito, Rosa Salazar, Tim Blake Nelson, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Danny Ramirez, Xosha Roquemore
Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World” was released on February 14, 2025 (United States) Check back with the Geek Twins for more Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World movie news and hype!
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