Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World Review

Sam Wilson is finally suiting up in an official capacity as our Captain America.

The fourth installment in the ongoing Captain America franchise, Captain America: Brave New World, sees our titular hero take on a new threat in the form of a familiar face: Samuel Sterns, who first appeared in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Sam also finds himself battling newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who Sterns weaponizes against him.

Brave New World is a solid standalone narrative that plants the seeds for what’s to come in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly in the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

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The Story

Brave New World definitely emits Captain America: The Winter Soldier vibes. You have a villain implementing mind control on the likes of Isaiah Bradley — a Korean War vet who underwent experimental testing involving the Super Soldier Serum — with a simple song. It’s reminiscent of Bucky Barnes’ trigger words that make him the infamous Winter Soldier.

Isaiah attempting to assassinate Ross and the plethora of other government officials falling under Sterns’ sway reminds me of Hydra infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D., in a way. Then, you have Captain America fighting tooth and nail to eliminate the threat before more innocent people become collateral damage. The stakes are colossal here.

While Sam tries to save Isaiah from a death sentence, at one point, he’s quite literally standing in between two global superpowers as they teeter precariously on the edge of war. Our Sam’s a diplomat, too, you know.

The story cleverly references the events in Eternals, something we haven’t seen anyone outright address yet. You know, a giant alien corpse sticking out of the Earth is a pretty big deal. Brave New World also touches on the consequences of such an entity’s presence, introducing Adamantium into the equation and the political ramifications of the new element’s arrival. This affects everyone and everything.

As for Ross becoming Red Hulk, his transition feels organic and seamless. There’s a nice buildup to it throughout the movie, starting with minor bouts of irritability morphing into brief fits of rage until he finally transforms. It’s done well.

Along with being an exciting, action-packed entry in the MCU, Brave New World presents a straightforward, easily digestible narrative, and that’s perfectly fine. Sometimes, simple is better. It allows for the performances and the characters to shine, which, in turn, adds more dimension and colors to a story.

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The Performances

I’ve been a Sam fan since his debut in The Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie is Captain America. He’s so comfortable in this role and, if anything, this indicates how important The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is to telling Sam’s story. That series is instrumental in laying the groundwork for this film and providing an easier transition for Sam. Mackie commands the screen with an easygoing, natural presence. There’s nothing over-the-top about his performance. Mackie comes across as a capable, self-assured hero with Sam’s lighthearted humor and an added layer of responsibility. You can see — and feel — everything Sam’s endured in Mackie’s work.

Harrison Ford is a scene stealer, plain and simple. He smashes it as Ross (hee-hee). Despite this being his first role in the MCU and settling into a part established by the late William Hurt, Ford is compelling. Like Mackie, Ford’s performance shows us everything Ross has been through in this universe thus far. He feels lived in. You buy him as a rehabilitated Ross trying to make up for his mistakes. His redemption arc is fun to watch.

Carl Lumbly made me weep in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and he does the same thing here. He’s a force of nature. Lumbly is so vulnerable and present as Isaiah. You feel his pain. There’s a weightiness to his work. It’s easy to sympathize with him. Side note: I’d watch a prequel or sequel series about Isaiah Bradley (hint hint, Marvel).

Danny Ramirez is a blast and a half as Joaquin Torres/Falcon. He and Mackie have a fun rapport as the experienced mentor and the motormouth mentee. Shira Haas delivers a solid performance as the intriguing Ruth, and I’d be curious to learn more about her Widow background. Giancarlo Esposito is a formidable presence as Sidewinder – a deliciously wicked baddie you wouldn’t want to run into in a dark alley.

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Action and Spectacle

It’s all about the action and spectacle in a Marvel film, and Brave New World delivers on those fronts. The special effects for Red Hulk, in particular, are a highlight — that slow transition from an angry Harrison Ford to an even angrier, redder Harrison Ford is a delight.

The action sequences are the standouts here, especially Cap and Falcon trying to prevent a war over Celestial Island. Additionally, Cap and Red Hulk’s battle in Washington, D.C., at the film’s climax, is also a feast for the eyes.

Overall, the action is evenly dispersed, sprinkled among the dialogue-heavy scenes and balancing out the story well.

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That Cameo

Another thing Brave New World does well is not rely on cameo after cameo or reference a ton of previous events. It stands on its own merits and references when necessary. That makes Sebastian Stan’s cameo as Bucky Barnes — who’s running for Congress — all the more surprising and delightful.

Of course, it helps that Mackie and Stan are friends in real life, but their on-screen chemistry is so natural and electric. You can feel the weight of what they experienced together in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and as fellow Avengers. You can see how their friendship has evolved. It’s a thing of beauty.

Additionally, Bucky’s scene is crucial for Sam. Sam’s at his lowest after Joaquin is critically injured. He questions everything, from his worthiness of wielding the shield to whether he can bounce back from his mistakes. Bucky has to remind him that Steve chose him — he’s more than worthy of being Captain America. This scene also reminds us of Sam’s humanity, adding a layer of complexity and relatability to his role as a human hero among superpowered beings.

Side note: I’m excited to get more context into Bucky’s congressional run in Thunderbolts*.

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“You’re Not Steve Rogers.”

While The Falcon and the Winter Soldier delves into the significance of a Black man becoming Cap, Brave New World digs deep into Sam’s own expectations for himself as a leader. Sam questions everything here, adding a richer element to his story. At one point, Ross declares that Sam’s not Steve Rogers. This brings Sam’s fear to the surface — that elephant in the room, as it were.

For Sam, Brave New World is about setting himself apart from Steve and forging his own identity while still being the hero everyone needs. On a material level, you can see this in Sam’s Cap suit, which I love. The Vibranium wings from Wakanda are a nice touch. I also adore the nod to Steve’s Cap uniform with Sam’s second suit in the film. It’s wonderfully nostalgic.

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The End-Credits Scene

It wouldn’t be a Marvel movie without a mid or end-credits scene. After the credits roll, Sam visits Sterns in The Raft, who reveals that danger is afoot. He’s seen all the probabilities (this feels like a reference to Doctor Strange seeing 14 million possible outcomes in Avengers: Infinity War). Sterns knows what’s coming – “The Others.” He also mentions that this isn’t “the only world.”

Yes, we still have Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps on the horizon, but, as mentioned above, this feels like a tease for the upcoming Avengers films. Could it be a nod to Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom? It makes the most sense to me, but only time will tell.

Regardless, bring it on.

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