It just didn't feel like a Captain America film. 

While Captain America: Brave New World is an anticlimactic movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was refreshing to see a Marvel movie where the hero doesn’t have crazy superpowers. Sam (Captain America) battles with the thought of taking the super soldier serum that would enhance his ability to make him at level with his foes. But in the end, he decides not to take it and outsmart his villains instead. In some ways, I wish he did take the serum, but I understand the messaging behind it.

One way I could describe this movie is that it just seems like a filler. Nothing major happened; its main purpose was to tie up loose ends. The big plot of this movie centers around The Incredible Hulk that came out 2008. Ever since they switched the actor of Bruce, no one ever really talked about what happened in that movie and what its consequences were. One drawback that this gives however is that it feels like a Hulk centered movie that had Sam in it. At first Sam is focused on, but then it seems that they wanted the story to be more about Thaddeus Ross (President of the United States). I came to this conclusion because Sam doesn’t really have a personal storyline in this movie. Unlike in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam doesn’t have an issue with taking up the Captain America mantle or how the rest of the world judges him. The only “problem” he had to face within himself was whether or not he should have taken the serum. And this was only after his partner almost died. At this point the movie was almost over. We got more development from Ross than anything else. Another thing they acknowledged was the celestial that emerged during The Eternals that came out in 2022. This is their way of bringing mutants into the MCU. They talked about how the celestial provides many new resources that nations are fighting over. One of these resources is adamantium which is a crucial part in the Wolverine’s origin story. Overall I am glad that they chose to focus on these storylines, but I do wish we had more development with Sam.

While I did enjoy this movie, it is not comparable with the Steve Rogers trilogy at all. Not only did it have a different level of storytelling, but also the quality. However, I do understand because Sam and Steve are two very different characters. I just wish that the writers and director took a chance to make the movie deeper and more competitive. The acting was also not fantastic. I think that Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson) played his character more like himself than he had in the previous Marvel projects. And while I do think the actor is super funny and entertaining, Sam is more serious in the other movies. I also think that replacing William Hurt (Thaddeus Ross) with Harrison Ford just felt kind of weird. Especially because he is a major character. He has a moment with his daughter at the end of the movie that just doesn’t seem super genuine. The dialogue was also super cliche and almost cringy and maybe that’s why the acting seemed off.

Unlike Deadpool and Wolverine, this movie doesn’t rely on crazy cameos. The cameos that do show up are relevant to the story and add a needed level to it. Sam’s old friend, Bucky, came to give him a pep talk after his partner almost died. We have not seen these two on screen since 2021 during Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Betty Ross, Thaddeuss Ross’ daughter, came to see her dad at the end of the movie. The last time she was seen was in The Incredible Hulk which came out in 2008. The villain was even a character who I’d never thought I would see again.

In conclusion, Captain America: Brave New World was an enjoyable movie that I think is overhated. While I thought it was good, there are still so many things that could have been improved. I think that this movie had a lot of potential, so I see why people are disappointed.

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Brave New World doesn't set itself ablaze but trends in the right direction for the MCU after a stretch of not-so-great films, less Deadpool & Wolverine. 

While it doesn’t set the world on fire, Captain America: Brave New World helps steady the shaky MCU ship. Don’t be fooled by the low Rotten Tomatoes score. Many critics cast their negative reviews claiming the film wasn’t political enough – that it didn’t serve as an allegory for today’s world.

Since this film carries the Captain America moniker, it’s only fitting to compare it to its predecessors. That said, it doesn’t hold up as well as the previous three installments. Its humor is present but lacks the wit of the first three films. The comic relief, mostly provided by Joaquin Torres/Falcon (Danny Ramirez), feels a bit forced.

Some critics have mentioned poor CGI, comparing it to the quality seen in some Disney+ MCU shows – but I didn’t see that. How real is it supposed to feel with a massive red Hulk-like Han Solo, anyhow? Some are also disappointed that Red Hulk doesn’t play a more prominent role in the film - but he's not really the villain and it's not a Hulk movie. The action sequences earn a solid B, though I wish there was more from Sidewinder.

The weakest part of the film is its drama. It could’ve been deeper (and no, I’m not talking about politics). It just falls a bit flat. The acting has its highs and lows. Liv Tyler has a cool cameo as Betty Ross, but I'm pretty certain she was stoned her day on-set. Harrison Ford had his own peaks and valleys while replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.

Brave New World was meant to continue the Captain America story arc, but it doesn’t feel like a true Captain America film. It should have been called The Falcon: Brave New World. I’m not saying Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) isn’t a worthy Captain America, but I’m struggling to call this Captain America 4. For me, it’s a solidly average MCU flick.

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