Captain America: Brave New World
February 12th, 2024
MOVIE: CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD
STARRING: ANTHONY MACKIE, HARRISON FORD, DANNY RAMIREZ, TIM BLAKE NELSON
DIRECTED BY: JULIUS ONAH
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
There are glimmers of hope in Captain America: Brave New World, the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Within those glimmers lies the spirit of movies from an earlier era—films like The Bourne Ultimatum, Patriot Games, and The Hunt for Red October. But with Mickey Mouse weighing things down, the comic book genre seems to be swimming against a powerful tide. Captain America: Brave New World attempts to recapture that lost glow but only manages to muster a flickering light.
The mantle of Captain America has now passed to Anthony Mackie. After the events of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, stepping into the shoes of Chris Evans, who starred in three highly successful Captain America films, is no easy feat. Sam Wilson (Mackie) merges his soaring wings with the iconic shield, trying to forge a new bond with the U.S. Government. This leads to a crucial connection with President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford), a man who spent his career hunting the Incredible Hulk. Ross now aims to usher in a new era of superhero-government relations. The potential for something new is there, but beneath the surface, something sinister is brewing, forcing Sam into the crosshairs between his duty to his country and his responsibility as a hero.
What becomes clear early in Brave New World is that the film strives to maintain the tone of its predecessors, positioning itself as a blend of espionage and government intrigue. Unfortunately, writer/director Julius Onah, alongside four other screenwriters, pieces together a story that attempts to connect the dots between 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, and the events of Eternals, and still make room for Sam’s journey. This leads to a mixed result, where the action sequences land, and new characters like Falcon’s sidekick Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez, who brings a great deal of charisma) shine, while the necessary MCU tie-ins halt the film’s progress.
It’s easy to see how Marvel has trapped itself in a corner it can’t escape. The return of Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, is a welcomed moment, but it’s difficult to remember a character first introduced 17 years ago. Harrison Ford gives his best to add depth to his role—his enthusiasm is clear—but one can’t help wishing they were watching Air Force One rather than another Marvel chapter.
These ups and downs make Brave New World a frustrating experience. It’s a moment for Anthony Mackie to prove he can carry the weight of the character—and he succeeds—but it still doesn’t feel entirely like his own. Ford is a welcome presence, and seeing his Red Hulk on screen is cool, but that’s about it. The movie feels less like a standalone film and more like another episode, another stepping stone for fans to collect—just like the comic books they’re based on. Brave New World could have been a new direction for Marvel films, one that doesn’t rely so heavily on stock market performance or box office returns. Instead of doing something Brave, this Captain America fails to soar high, delivering more of the same.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD IS PLAYING IN THEATERS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14TH, 2025.
2 ½ STARS
Written by: Leo Brady
