Marvel movies have lost some of their fanfare lately with a mix of varying quality, undeserved hate and bungled marketing plus the knock-on impacts of strikes and a pandemic. There are still things for die-hard fans to be excited about, but does Captain America Brave New World do enough to draw in the mainstream crowds?
The truth is, that remains to be seen, at least as I sit and write this, but there’s promise. There’s a more grounded tone for this one, no screaming goats, and no alien cat babies. It’s probably closer to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier show than the Winter Soldier movie, and that’s a great reference point because there’s a fair bit of carryover from the Disney+ series. There’s not so much that you “need” to have seen it but I appreciated the connectivity.
Brave New World does seem to skip over the whole “Secret Invasion” thing, but I’d be fine if the repercussions of that series were never addressed. You’ll also figure out what’s going on a bit quicker if you remember the early MCU, but I don’t want to spoil it as I want to save the experience for that one person who might read this review and has dodged all the promo spoilers.
The consequences of the Eternals movie might seem a bit sudden and odd for anyone who at least hasn’t heard how that movie ended. All that is to say, this feels very rooted in the MCU. Not overwhelmingly so, but it does feel like we’re back in some kind of main continuity with the stage being set for The Thunderbolts*.
Harrison Ford replaces William Hurt as Thadeus Ross following his death in 2022 and does an admirable job of replicating that Ross energy as well as portraying a more human and vulnerable side that the plot balances on. I’m possibly overly cautious of spoiler but Captain America is once again placed in conflict between the institution of the American Government and some higher values that define the best of the country.
This time thanks to someone pulling the strings in the shadows to bring about Ross’ downfall via way of possible global conflict. Sam is still having to prove himself to others and even himself while the political tension and deepening conspiracy spur things on.
I appreciate the consistent tone and the focus on more personal stakes. Despite reported reshoots, the movie feels intentional. It has a story to tell and maybe even a message. It had some heart, although I’m aware it’s a product of a billion-dollar multinational corporation and could have gone a lot harder and deeper with its themes.
Mackie’s acting and some creative action are high points but there are some niggles. The editing doesn’t do the combat scenes any favours, there’s decent choreography that makes the most of Sam’s wing-ed suit while still making it clear he’s not a super soldier, but some flashing lights and fast cuts can make it hard to follow.
Some really cool moments could do with a second more to take them in properly. There’s also the concern of Disney overworking and underpaying their VFX artist and relying too much on “The Volume“. Sure, there are some impressive visuals, but still one or two questionable moments.
I can’t say Captain America Brave New World is one of my top-five MCU movies, but it does give me confidence about the upcoming projects – Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four – set for this year and beyond.
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