Captain America: Brave NewWorld
Directed by Julius Onah
★★½
An Exhausted Franchise in Auto-Pilot Mode
Captain America: Brave New World should have been a unique slam-dunk, Anthony Mackie now front and center as Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, the film had every reason to redefine what the character could be. Unfortunately, what could have felt bold and personal ends up buried under the same creative fatigue that's been dragging the MCU down for years.
Directed by Julius Onah, the film brings back iconic characters such as Liv Tyler as Betty Ross and Tim Blake Nelson as The Leader, while bringing in Harrison Ford to replace the late William Hurt as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. But all the returning characters, no matter how beloved, are handed the same problem: the film doesn’t know how to use them in a fresh or meaningful way. They serve as connective tissue rather than characters who drive the story.
Anthony Mackie, to his credit, fully inhabits the role of Captain America. He brings presence, thoughtfulness, and quiet authority. But he can’t do much when the surrounding material lacks ambition. Sam’s internal conflict—what it means to carry the shield—is barely explored beyond surface-level mentions. He’s left going through the motions of a plot that feels prepackaged rather than character-driven.
The story attempts to spin together a political thriller and a superhero epic, but both threads come off watered-down. There are hints of corruption, super-soldier programs, and world-threatening consequences, but none of it hits with urgency. The film constantly gestures toward significance, but never settles into a focused rhythm. One moment we’re dealing with Senate hearings, the next we're thrown into sky battles that feel disconnected from the film’s emotional core.
The action is slick but uninspired. Choreography feels overly familiar, and the editing doesn’t help—scenes move too quickly to absorb, too slowly to thrill. It all looks polished enough, but not one sequence stands out as memorable or truly inventive. Marvel has long leaned on its visual effects and big set pieces to carry weaker entries, but here, even that safety net is fraying.
Harrison Ford, a powerhouse in virtually every role, seems oddly restrained here. Liv Tyler barely registers. Tim Blake Nelson’s return as The Leader could’ve been a game-changer, but the script underuses him, leaving the film without a truly compelling antagonist. These are strong performers, wasted on roles that never grow beyond exposition or setup.
What’s most frustrating is how Brave New World fails to justify its own existence. It doesn’t push the MCU forward. It doesn’t deepen the character of Sam Wilson in any significant way. And it certainly doesn’t offer anything we haven’t seen, multiple times, in earlier films. At this point, even the structure of these movies feels templated—there’s no spontaneity, no surprises, and no pulse.
Everything runs, but nothing roars. It’s not a complete misfire, but it is a deeply unmemorable entry in a franchise that once defined blockbuster innovation.
Marvel, do better. We’ve seen what’s possible. This ain’t it.
