Captain America: Brave New World Review – A Heroic Mess

A Shield, a Serum, and a Whole Lot of Baggage

If Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World were a dating profile, it’d list “complicated relationships” as its top trait. This Phase Five flick—starring Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as the new Cap—tries to juggle political intrigue, gamma-radiated rage monsters, and the weight of Steve Rogers’ legacy. But does it stick the landing? Or does it crash harder than a vibranium shield thrown by a super-soldier with bad aim? Let’s dive into the chaos, cherry blossoms, and CGI explosions that define Marvel’s latest attempt to reboot its star-spangled icon.

Plot Overview: Adamantium, Assassinations, and Awkward Team-Ups

Brave New World opens with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) grappling with his new role as Captain America—sans super-soldier serum or a clear roadmap. Enter President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), a reformed(?) General-turned-Commander-in-Chief who enlists Sam to broker a global treaty over adamantium, a metal rivaling Wakanda’s vibranium, found in the corpse of the Celestial Tiamut (Eternals’ giant space statue, because why not?).

Things go sideways when Sam’s mentor, Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), gets brainwashed via a hypnotic rendition of “Mr. Blue” (yes, that Fleetwoods song) and attempts to assassinate Ross. Cue a globe-hopping conspiracy involving the Serpent Society, mind-control tech, and Tim Blake Nelson’s long-awaited return as Samuel Sterns/The Leader—a villain last seen in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk with a head full of gamma-enhanced brains.

By the third act, Ross transforms into the Red Hulk (complete with fiery rage and Harrison Ford’s gruff charm), Sam battles existential dread, and the film culminates in a metaphor-heavy showdown at Washington’s cherry blossoms. Because nothing says “subtlety” like a giant red monster smashing the White House while Kendrick Lamar’s “i” plays ironically in the background.

Characters & Performances: Mackie Shines, Ford Fizzles

Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson remains the film’s beating heart. He’s charismatic, grounded, and radiates “reluctant hero” energy—even when saddled with lines like, “If we can’t see the good in each other, we’ve already lost the fight”. But the script undermines him at every turn. Remember The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s nuanced exploration of race and legacy? Here, it’s reduced to a few throwaway scenes, leaving Sam’s arc feeling as hollow as Ross’s campaign promises.

Harrison Ford’s Ross, meanwhile, oscillates between “grumpy grandpa” and “gamma-powered tyrant.” His Red Hulk transformation is visually stunning, but the character’s motivations—dying heart, estranged daughter Betty (Liv Tyler), and a thirst for legacy—are as undercooked as a Marvel post-credits tease.

The real scene-stealer? Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder, a serpent-themed villain who oozes menace in his limited screen time. If only the film had leaned into his gravitas instead of relegating him to a glorified henchman.

MCU Connections: When Nostalgia Clashes with Progress

Brave New World feels less like a Captain America movie and more like a The Incredible Hulk reunion tour. Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader—now with a comic-accurate bulbous head—schemes from the shadows, while Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross returns after a 17-year hiatus to… stare disapprovingly at her father.

The film also awkwardly ties into Eternals (remember Tiamut’s giant hand?) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with Ross quipping about Wakanda’s vibranium hoarding. But these callbacks feel less like world-building and more like corporate-mandated Easter eggs.

Worst of all, Sam’s journey—central to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier—gets sidelined for Ross’s redemption arc. It’s like Marvel forgot its own homework: Why should we care about a Black man bearing the mantle of a symbol steeped in America’s thorny history? The answer, sadly, is buried under gamma explosions.

Action & Visuals: Punchy Fights, Snoozy Politics

Director Julius Onah (Luce) delivers kinetic action sequences—like Sam’s Mexico City brawl with Sidewinder—that prioritize physicality over CGI sludge. The Red Hulk’s rampage, complete with White House destruction, is Phase Five’s most visually arresting moment, even if it’s drowned in heavy-handed symbolism.

But the film’s political thriller aspirations fall flat. Ross’s adamantium treaty plotline—meant to critique American imperialism—gets lost in a maze of mind-control subplots and underwhelming villains. By the time Sam monologues about “rebuilding the Avengers,” you’ll be too busy checking your Peloton app (yes, that’s a real product placement) to care.

The Verdict: A Brave New World… of MCU Fatigue?

Captain America: Brave New World isn’t a disaster—it’s just painfully average. Mackie’s charm and Esposito’s menace can’t save a script that prioritizes nostalgia over innovation. The film’s greatest sin? Reducing Sam Wilson to a bystander in his own story, while Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk hogs the spotlight like a cherry blossom in a hurricane.

Marvel’s Phase Five needs a jolt of creativity, not another reheated sequel. As Sam himself quips: “I’ll do my best.” Here’s hoping Marvel does better next time.