"Captain America: Brave New World": A Disappointing Entry in the Slowly Deteriorating MCU Series

Directed by: Julius Onah
Rating: 4.5/10

“Captain America: Brave New World” marks Anthony Mackie’s return as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who has officially taken up the shoes of Captain America. After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He has a mission to discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind sees the entire world red.

On paper, this narrative could work, but the film’s execution feels less like a continuation of a beloved franchise and more like a drag through familiar territory that has lost its shine throughout the years. After the hype and emotional weight of “Endgame,” seeing the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) struggle to find its footing is disheartening. The excitement that once defined Marvel films seems to have faded, with exceptions like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” reminding us of what the franchise once was.

The storytelling and direction in “Captain America: Brave New World” are particularly disappointing and convoluted. The pacing drags and is slow, leaving scenes that should be thrilling, feeling flat and uninspired. It’s as if the filmmakers forgot that the audience thrives on momentum and excitement. Instead, we’re left with long stretches of dialogue that are equally bad as the narrative that doesn’t build character depth or advance the plot meaningfully. This lack of urgency and engagement diminishes the stakes, making it hard to care about the characters or their missions.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, the score itself is very jarring and disjointed from the whole movie experience. The score often overwhelms the scenes it accompanies instead of enhancing the emotional resonance of these pivotal moments in the film. It feels disjointed, pulling the viewers out of the experience rather than immersing them in it. Personally, it’s frustrating to hear a potentially stirring score that ultimately feels like a mismatch with the film’s tone and atmosphere.

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While the performances are not equally bad, they are still a letdown. Anthony Mackie’s performance as the new Captain America lacks the motivational spark and enthusiasm to make audiences root for him as the new Cap. Instead, his performance comes off as hollow and unmotivated, leaving the audience with a sense of emptiness. I don’t really care about his character or mission in saving the “world.” It seems as though he’s just a side character in this tedious and messy narrative. Harrison Ford as President Ross is also another disappointment. His performance translates as exaggerated and uninspired, perhaps due to the lack of depth in his character. This is probably one of the worst performances I’ve watched this year. The characterization is where the film also fails, with each character feeling underutilized; their potential is squandered, which dilutes the impact of their arcs and interactions.

While the film successfully attempts to lay the groundwork for a new journey within the MCU franchise, it ultimately raises yet more questions than it answers, which feels like a cash grab rather than a thoughtful continuation of the whole MCU. The lack of narrative and depth in each character necessary to invest the viewers in the characters or their motivations is overwhelming, especially the antagonists, who come off as one-dimensional.

To add insult to injury, “Captain America: Brave New World” also struggles visually, with CGI that is underwhelming and subpar, drives the viewer away from the whole cinematic experience; it’s forgivable and can be overlooked, but if the narrative and execution are already flawed, at least surprise us visually. Rather than being swept away in a world of actions, we are left picking apart the cheap effects that could have elevated the story instead of pulling them out of it.

In conclusion, “Captain America: Brave New World” is another disappointing MCU addition and a missed opportunity. The film lacks all the excitement, depth, and character development that fans have come to expect from a big-budget and grand story. If this is the future of the MCU franchise, it’s hard to feel concerned about where it’s headed.