by Rosa Parra
Sam Wilson finally gets his own film as he takes on the Captain America mantle.”Captain America: Brave New World” stars Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. The film is directed by Julius Onah. The film follows Sam Wilson, who after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, finds himself in the middle of an international incident.
After following the turbulent ups and downs of the film’s production, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The movie managed to meet my modest expectations while occasionally exceeding them. Several aspects of this latest entry into the MCU were executed superbly. I found myself engaged for most of its runtime and was pleasantly surprised by the magnetism and charisma that Anthony Mackie brought to the character of Sam Wilson. In fact, I would be completely on board with him becoming the new “leader” of this phase of the MCU.
Danny Ramirez delivered a perfect comedic sidekick performance, reminiscent of Michael Peña’s “Luis” from the first two Ant-Man films. Harrison Ford also delivered a strong performance as the newly elected President Ross.
The script is the weakest aspect of the production, accompanied by a fragmented and uneven tone. It felt like a puzzle made from pieces of other unfinished puzzles. Additionally, there are continuity issues, as characters appear differently within a few shots of the same scene. Finally, the villain had potential but ultimately came across as underdeveloped and generic.
The action sequences were thrilling, and I had a fantastic time watching Red Hulk. The visuals during the Red Hulk scenes were truly impressive. I found myself engrossed in the movie, especially during the mentor-mentee moments between Sam and Joaquin. Additionally, the introduction of Isiah Bradley was really badass.
There was one post-credit scene that didn’t hold much significance. Additionally, this movie was the first to omit the usual Marvel logo introduction. It’s worth noting that this review comes from someone who hasn’t watched the Disney+ series “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” so I may be missing some important context.
Overall, “Captain America: Brave New World” is a mid-level entry in the MCU that addresses several plot holes from previous films. It presents a reserved and cautious narrative.
Rating: 3 out of 5.