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Review: ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ is an Unnecessary Sequel that Doesn’t Soar to the Same Heights as Its Predecessors
February 13, 2025Ben MK
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Of all the characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America is one of the most iconic. From Chris Evans' portrayal of the patriotic superhero to Anthony Mackie's inheritance of the mantle, Captain America has fought for the everyman in almost every conceivable situation, from going up against a Nazi supervillain hellbent on world domination to defending the planet from an alien invasion. Now, with Captain America: Brave New World, Cap is facing what might be his most timely battle — taking on a power-hungry U.S. president and, of course, yet another far-reaching conspiracy that threatens to destabilize the balance of world power. But does this latest installment in the MCU have what it takes to restore moviegoers' faith in cinema's biggest franchise? Set 16 years after the events of The Incredible Hulk and in the wake of such movies as Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame and The Eternals, the story finds former General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (Harrison Ford) leaving his military career behind and ascending to the highest political office in America, a change that has done little to repair the relationship between him and his estranged daughter, Betty (Liv Tyler). As the newly inaugurated Commander-in-Chief, Ross has gone from trying to police the Avengers to trying to broker a lucrative international treaty that could give the United States access to the world's most indestructible mineral — Adamantium. However, when Ross' efforts are sidelined by a series of assassinations perpetrated by suspects who appear to be victims of mind control, it throws into question not only the success of Ross' plan, but the future of America's international relations and its place on the world stage. Enter Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), who has been trying his best to break out of the shadow of his good friend Steve Rogers and live up to the title of Captain America. Tasked with recovering a mysterious, high-value package that has been stolen by a mercenary named Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito) and the criminal organization Serpent, Sam and his friend, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), stumble into a scheme by scientist-turned-supervillain Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), who has spent the better part of the last decade-and-a-half plotting his revenge against Ross. Little does Sam realize, however, just how intertwined Ross and Stern's fates have become. But when he and Joaquin defy the President's orders and start their own investigation into Stern's underground activities, will they be rewarded for their valor? Or will Sam find himself going up against a side of Ross he never knew existed — a side even more destructive and volatile than Bruce Banner's alter ego himself? Directed by Julius Onah, the result attempts to deliver a big-screen followup to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier worthy of walking in the footsteps of Captain America's previous outings. Unfortunately, while Cap's new wings may be made of Vibranium, they're still not enough to help Brave New World soar to the same heights as its predecessors. Whether it's the story, which leads viewers down a series of twists and turns that never amount to anything interesting, the action, which resembles something made for television rather than a feature-length blockbuster, or the mere fact that none of these characters ever manage to strike a chord with audiences, there are a myriad of reasons why Cap's latest adventure proves to be the weakest of all the Captain America films. Most notably, though, is just how unnecessary this installment feels. For aside from introducing the concept of Adamantium to the MCU, there really is no other purpose served by this sequel. Suffice to say, Captain America die-hards will still get a kick out of seeing Mackie in his shiny new superhero suit. And, of course, there's also some pleasure to be had in watching Ford as the Red Hulk reduce half the White House to rubble. For most moviegoers, on the other hand, Captain America: Brave New World will register as little more than an afterthought once the credits have rolled. And while only time will tell if Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be able to redeem the MCU's reputation, one thing's for certain — it'll take more than a few cameos and a heaping helping of fan service to get audiences back on board. Captain America: Brave New World releases February 14th, 2025 from Walt Disney Studios. The film has an MPAA rating of PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some strong language. Its runtime is 1 hr. 58 min. |
