Captain America: Brave New World - A Review
General Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) becomes the President of the United States and collaborates with other nations to negotiate the extraction of Adamantium from Celestial Island. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), the new Captain America, is aware of the President’s desire to revive the Avengers team but doesn’t fully agree with his methods. When an assassination attempt targets the President in the White House, Sam refuses to believe that his friend Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) could be involved. Now, Captain America must uncover the truth behind the conspiracy, investigating the case against Ross’s orders. The President himself poses a problem, as Ross has been infected with the Hulk’s blood following a brutal battle, potentially transforming him into a monstrous red creature if he loses control.
Anthony Mackie as Sam in a still from “Captain America: Brave New World”
The Fading Marvel Universe
Everything comes to an end. The Marvel behemoth is also thinning and crumbling. Those who predicted a superhero crisis are likely rubbing their hands together, exclaiming, “We told you so!” Kevin Feige’s ship has been weathering storms, and with the arrival of Phase Five, it has frankly begun to sink. “Quantumania” and “The Marvels” were received with, at best, disdain. The actors of the new lineup, from the heroes of “Black Panther” to “Eternals,” are no match for the Avengers’ Olympic roster. They have faded into oblivion, either due to lackluster roles or personal transgressions, like the canceled Jonathan Majors. Today’s Marvel studio is a conveyor belt of overproduction, unplanned reshoots, and regular test-screening fiascos. To save the company and regain audience attention, they had to introduce the concept of multiverses—a dubious and perishable endeavor.
A Demanding Universe
Although Marvel exists in the market of primitive dopamine hits, the studio remains incredibly demanding of its audience and their memory. To understand the plot of “Brave New World,” you need to keep the entire old story in your head. At the very least, remember the Celestial Tiamut from “Eternals,” recall the events of the “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” series, and keep in mind the nuances of Sam Wilson’s relationship with Steve Rogers from the three “Captain America” films. Who needs that? But that’s not all. You’ll also have to brush up on the 17-year-old “Incredible Hulk” to remember General Ross and his daughter Betty (Liv Tyler), who dated Bruce Banner (Edward Norton). While the late William Hurt played the general in that film, Harrison Ford takes over the role here. He didn’t even read the script and joined the project like he was attending a party. And it shows.
Anthony Mackie as Sam in a still from “Captain America: Brave New World”
The New Captain America
Sam Wilson also takes over the baton as the new Captain America. The same intrigues surround him: spy missions, battles, and the political games of puppeteers. But betting on Anthony Mackie’s zealous hero hasn’t paid off, and the actor simply has nothing to add to the gallery of monotonous characters. Chris Evans looked much more impressive, even when he just had to show off his canonical soldier’s face. However, for a superhero film, that’s often enough. But the same can’t be said about the new “Captain.” The film, like its numerous characters (a remarkably bland mercenary antagonist played by Giancarlo Esposito, Cap’s friend Isaiah Bradley played by Carl Lumbly, and others), feels like filler. Or worse, like someone wrote fan fiction and attached it to a major franchise.
Anthony Mackie as Sam in a still from “Captain America: Brave New World”
Stale Action and Political Parallels
Director Julius Onah aimed for the style of the previous “Captain America” films, particularly the second film from 2014—a paranoid techno-thriller about problems within the White House and global conspiracies. But in the past 10 years, the world has spun so wildly that any Marvel epic now pales in comparison to the events of real politics, including in Washington. Life and history remain the best dramatists. “Brave New World” feels dry compared not only to the daily agenda but also to the Russo brothers’ blockbusters. The plot is sluggish, and the selection of action is shockingly meager. The highlight might be the aerial battle between the US and Japan and the fight between the newly minted Cap and Red Hulk, but even that is ruined by saccharine graphics and an inappropriate climax among cherry blossoms. The rest of the runtime is prosaic: the hero in a suit fights, sneaks around monotonous bases, and tries to find out who is plotting against the president.
A Funeral March for the MCU?
How to make superhero films great again? It’s unclear. The new “Cap”—both the film and its hero—is clearly unsure of himself, and the ex-Falcon spends half the film reflecting on whether he’s worthy to carry the shield. Obviously, “Brave New World” wanted to revive the Marvel universe and bring reforms, but it has become another funeral march. The achievements are only negative: third lowest in box office revenue in MCU history, first in clumsy political parallels, whether accidental or intentional (even the lazy will joke and compare Ross/Red Hulk to Trump), and completely zero as an entertainment product—there’s nothing to extract from it (and that’s with a budget of $185 million). To restore the power of the former attraction, the studio needs something like the super-soldier serum—without it, Captain America is somewhat emaciated.