Talk about big shoes to fill.
Anthony Mackie isn’t just taking over for Chris Evans as the star-spangled hero in “Captain America: Brave New World.” Mackie must serve as a bridge to future “Avengers” films while restoring the MCU’s luster.
The “Hurt Locker” alum is up to the task in the moderately satisfying sequel. A few nips and tucks could have elevated the character in ways the struggling franchise demands.
Mackie is now established as Cap as the movie opens, coming off “Avengers: Endgame” and the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”
His Sam Wilson is open to partnering with Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), a frenemy now known as the nation’s new Commander in Chief.
“Get off my plane!” (Wait, that’s another film.)
Cap also is training the “new” Falcon (Danny Ramirez), a headstrong soldier eager to make his mark. The Avenger introduces him to an old friend named Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) as part of his super-heroic training regimen.
Isaiah was part of a super soldier experiment and boasts supernatural strength. He also has a super-chip on his shoulder from being jailed for decades by his own government.
Can’t blame him.
When Isaiah attempts to assassinate President Ross the story activates. The attack threatens a potential treaty between the U.S. and Japan and strains Cap’s ties to the president. And Cap is wondering why his dear friend would attempt something so awful.
What follows is clear-eyed but busy, taped together with big stars and an eagerness to get the franchise back on its feet.
Secondary characters add spark to the proceedings. Lumbly doesn’t get enough screen time, but his haunted face and super-strength are welcome. Shira Haas plays a Secret Service agent and a badass in her own right, although the film takes great pains to hide her real identity.
Yeah, she’s the Israeli superhero known as Sabra.
Giancarlo Esposito gives Cap fits as the venomous Sidewinder, but his character will be confusing to those unfamiliar with comic book lore. Esposito is never less than engaging, but his purpose here feels fuzzy.
A larger foe remains out of focus, but that won’t be the case for long.
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“Brave New World” has a choppy feel that suggests those infamous reshoots left scars. The tensions between the U.S. and Japan are never believable and Ross’s conflicted emotions come across as inconsistent.
It helps to know your cinematic Hulk lore – a previous film’s events weigh heavily in the plot.
Mackie’s Captain America shares his predecessor’s never-say-die pluck, a welcome hangover from Evans’ tenure. He’s more cynical than Steve Rogers, though. Sam has seen too much to be a red, white and blue Boy Scout.
It’s a laudable difference between the two, but the screenplay doesn’t fully embrace it. A late scene suggests Cap’s value as a person of color, but the film isn’t sure what to do with the moment.
Nor does the story reflect the grittier elements of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” That film had an intensity that “Brave New World” lacks.
The events here can be comic-book silly.
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Ross’s disconnect with his estranged daughter Betty (previously played by Liv Tyler) gives the story an unexpected warmth. The old warrior crumbles at the thought of her absence, but he’s still formidable when it counts.
Stars like Ford defy Father Time.
The anticipated Red Hulk appearance doesn’t disappoint. The film could have played as a second Disney+ miniseries, but red-hued finale deserves its big-screen fate. Mackie more than earns his wings in the battle royale.
The best MCU films gave us indelible characters and robust action, but the writing often provided the secret sauce. A quip here, a memorable line, there, and the super antics took on a brighter glow.
Some even hinted at broader ambitions that only a superhero film could explore.
You won’t find much of that in “Captain America: Brave New World,” a workman-like MCU entry that entertains but never dazzles.
HiT or Miss: “Captain America: Brave New World” reminds us of the MCU’s strengths and weaknesses in a post-“Avengers: Endgame” world.
This movie has sub-CW TV dialogue. Sounds like it was written by AI. (may have been!) Esposito’s character doesn’t even belong in the movie. He was crammed in after principle photography and as such is disconnected from the rest of the plot. Even the usual shills are having trouble shilling because this movie is such a patchwork piece of trash. The fact that your review is the most positive one I’ve read is kinda sad.
Japan is our big international enemy? Hi-tech bullets bounce off Red Hulk, but Falcon’s knives penetrate? Falcon survives getting punched around? Falcon can do most of the tricks that Steve Rogers did? Riiiight.
This is a terrible movie.
My wife and I saw it. Pretty good Marvel movie. Not the best, but enjoyable.
Agree that the film was somewhat choppy. Sidewinder was very well done as was the primary (unnamed) villain. Some of the backstory was unfamiliar to me. I’ve not seen the 2nd Hulk movie or The Eternals though I did see the Captain America mini-series. The first part of the movie had to give backstory to make the situation understandable to those walking into the movie without all of the history.
Overall, worth seeing on the big screen.
The next person to wear #12 in New England will never be Tom Brady, even if the uniforms are identical.
AN OBSERVATION from Superior Intelligence.
The “butt hurt” by those insisting that Captain America “IS WHITE” is prima facie evidence that minorities are RIGHT that “Representation Matters”. In UNO REVERSE fashion, you are HURT when you feel that this “representation” is being taken away from you! But you’re worse than the minorities because you can still “pleasure yourselves” with the all white historical version of whichever “race swapped” character that gets your goat.
Imagine that! YOUR BUTT HURT proves THEY are right in seeking said representation! You have heard from genius this day, let it change your misbegotten lives.
An astoundingly fair review given your ideological predisposition to discredit anything by Disney , a predisposition that I share in full disclosure.
I’m all Marveled out. The brand has been run into the ground. It’s basically the same story over and over – all leading up to the big dramatic fight scene at the end.
Ben there, done that too many times now. I’d rather watch a $10 million horror flick.
Captain America was NOT black. , He is a red blooded white American hero !! . I won’t watch such sierra bravo. !!!
So “Marvelled out” that you took 5 min to read an article about Marvel and then left a comment about ……wait for it…..MARVEL. What you ARE is an ideologically led bum predisposed to hate anything woke JUST LIKE ME. Difference is , it probably BOTHERS you that Cap is black and I don’t suffer from your racist hatred.
Sounds like a mid movie. Not worth getting excited about.
“The tensions between the U.S. and Japan are never believable”
You know what would be believable? Tensions between the U.S. and China. And we all know why Disney didn’t go that route.