"Captain America: Brave New World" is Anything But

Has it really been almost twenty years since Marvel burst onto the scene as an independent studio, taking a massive gamble with “Iron Man” that paid off billions of times over? Back then, the idea of an interconnected superhero universe was fresh, exciting, and lucrative enough to prompt Disney to pony up $4 billion for the company. While few would argue that was a bad investment, the returns have been diminishing for the last several years—not just at the box office, but in narrative magic, excitement, and basic storytelling cohesion.

“Captain America: Brave New World” is technically the fourth installment in the Captain America franchise, yet it feels oddly disconnected. Steve Rogers no longer wields the shield; his chosen successor, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), has taken up the mantle. Passing the torch to a new character is a bold move, but far from a fatal one. In theory, it should shake up the status quo and push the series in a fresh direction. The problem is that the film isn’t actually focused on developing the new Captain America—instead, it spends most of its runtime acting as a belated sequel to “The Incredible Hulk,” a 2008 movie few viewers hold fond memories of.

Audiences are forced to track plot threads from a nearly two-decade-old film while also following up on the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Because I hadn't watched the show, several narrative turns left me feeling completely lost. For die-hard Marvel fans who track MCU lore like baseball stats, this might not be an issue. But the larger problem is that “Captain America: Brave New World” desperately tries to be a high-stakes political thriller without offering any actual stakes.

In “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Hydra served as an insidious shadow organization while S.H.I.E.L.D. mirrored real-world debates over government surveillance and overreach. “Captain America: Civil War” tackled government oversight and accountability. Were those the greatest political thrillers ever made? No, but they felt like real movies with something to say. Given today's sensitive political climate, pulling punches here makes the narrative feel neutered and toothless.

To add insult to injury, the movie recasts General Ross with Harrison Ford (taking over after the passing of William Hurt). Ford is an icon who commands the screen when given solid material—and a veteran of genuine political thrillers like “Clear and Present Danger,” “Ransom,” and “Air Force One.” What must a legendary actor think when playing a president who remains perpetually two steps behind a paper-thin villain's plot? The paycheck may be great, but wasting a talent of his caliber on CGI red-raging tantrums feels like a misfire.

As for the rest of the rogues' gallery, the filmmakers throw in multiple half-baked villains and red herrings rather than building one compelling antagonist. A dogfight action sequence in the sky proves Marvel can still execute impressive set pieces when motivated, but it matters little when everything surrounding it is so forgettable. The film only comes alive during these set pieces, revealing its true priority. Ultimately, “Captain America: Brave New World” doesn't feel like cinema—it feels like a theme park ride.