An MCU paint-by-numbers. It is perfectly serviceable, but doesn’t have any real punch.
Sam Wilson, aka Captain America, finds an old friend being tried for attempted assassination of the American President. But upon investigating this, he finds a darker secret underneath.
It isn’t uncommon knowledge that Captain America: Brave New World was in development hell for a while. In fact, it is easier to count the MCU movies not in development hell over recent years. Discounting the oddball Deadpool & Wolverine last year, it has been a long time since we had an “MCU movie”. The last one being the disastrous The Marvels in 2023 (which got a distasteful one cup of cocoa.)
This drought and development difficulties are a clear sign of Disney/Marvel pivoting. If there is one thing to take from “Brave New World”, it is that it wants to right the boat by being stable and tying up loose ends.
Directed by Julius Onah (Cloverfield Paradox) and starring Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, and Giancarlo Esposito… does Captain America 4 do enough?
The film promises to be a slightly more grounded scenario than recent entries, as much as it can with a hero who can fly around. But it certainly doesn’t reach the heights of Captain America and the Winter Soldier.
Following the election of General Ross to President of the United States, Sam Wilson gets a shock when his well-to-do friend Isaiah attempts an assassination. But is there more going on? Especially with the United States in a deadlock with other countries as to the claiming of “Celestial Island”, a newly forged monolith in the Indian ocean. A structure that contains a new alloy: adamantium.
That’s a brief summary, but there are already half dozen references to previous MCU entries. Brave New World certainly isn’t shy in alienating those who haven’t done their homework. Moreover, it references 2008’s The Incredible Hulk frequently. A film that is all but ostracized from the MCU. It even hints (merely hints) at adamantium for future movies.
So it is heavily about the MCU. There isn’t any other significant subtext, which is perhaps the most biting issue. The first two Captain America movies had a small amount of relevance (with Civil War being just another Avengers movie) but here… there isn’t much to dig into.
Performances are fine. Anthony Mackie has a lot more to give in the MCU, an empathetic hero rather than simply brawl or intellect. He gives the sentiment of “not measuring up” to past heroes, which is certainly applicable to the MCU as a whole now. Harrison Ford is also here, taking over the role of Thaddeus Ross from the late William Hurt. Ford certainly looks more comfortable here than he did in Indiana Jones 5. Maybe a little red in the face sometimes.
The action is passable… if a little weightless. One asks more questions of “power levels” than to be immersed. It isn’t 2021’s Black Widow bad, but it isn’t far off. Sam is an un-powered hero; he shouldn’t be surviving what he’s experiencing here so easily. But, to the film’s credit, it does make fun of this too.
Our villain is an interesting choice too. Certainly unexpected, and it is the only thing the trailer doesn’t outright spoil (so I won’t now) but it was fun. The villain’s modus operandi could have been used in a more subtext-orientated way, though, to give the film the gravitas and relevancy it craves.
As you can see, the film is middle of the road. It isn’t terrible by any means; you will enjoy it if you enjoy superhero movies. But it doesn’t do anything outwardly special either. Again, given the MCU’s condition, Disney/Marvel will probably be happy with this result.
Additional Marshmallows: There’s no mid-credit scene. Also skip the end-credit scene; it isn’t worth it.