A BLAND AND DERIVATE WORLD
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has certainly grown, flourished, and expanded since its inception in 2008 with the release of Iron Man. Since then, this shared superhero universe has been bolstered by an ever-growing roster of heroes, villains, gods, and monsters, delivered through standalone films, sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and massive blockbuster team-ups. Among its many offerings, the Captain America trilogy has remained a fan favorite, charting the rise of Steve Rogers from a scrawny WWII soldier to a symbol of heroism. His journey took him through battles against the Red Skull and Hydra in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the emotional confrontation with his brainwashed best friend in 2014’s The Winter Soldier, and a bitter ideological rift with Tony Stark in 2016’s Civil War. Steve’s arc extended into the Avengers films as well, where he joined forces with fellow superheroes to face threats like Loki, Ultron, and ultimately the Mad Titan, Thanos. Through it all, Steve Rogers stood as the “beating heart” of the Avengers, embodying courage, sacrifice, and moral clarity. By the end of Avengers: Endgame, he chose to pass the mantle of Captain America to his trusted friend and comrade, Sam Wilson (a.k.a. The Falcon). Now, following the events of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel Studios and director Julius Onah return to the saga with Captain America: Brave New World. With Sam Wilson fully stepping into the iconic role, the question becomes: does this fourth installment carry the legacy forward in meaningful ways, or is it a dull, directionless entry that fails to soar?
THE STORY
Having spent some time carrying the mantle of Captain America, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and his partner, Joaquin Torres, now operating as the new Falcon (Danny Ramirez), find themselves taking on missions and thwarting threats around the globe. Their latest assignment involves recovering a mysterious canister from criminal hands, working in conjunction with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), who is struggling to both lead a nation and reconnect with his estranged daughter, Betty. Inside the canister lies a newly discovered metal alloy known as adamantium, recently extracted from Celestial Island. Ross seeks to secure international treaties to maintain peace surrounding this powerful new resource. In celebration of the discovery, Wilson is invited to the White House and brings along longtime friend and veteran super soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) as his guest. However, the event takes a shocking turn when Isaiah unexpectedly snaps and makes an attempt on Ross’s life. Amid the chaos, Wilson becomes determined to clear Isaiah’s name and, alongside Joaquin, begins investigating the incident. Meanwhile, Ross tries to keep his composure, grappling with internal anger and strange bursts of energy, while deploying Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas), an ex-Black Widow agent from Israel, to monitor Wilson, who is now being targeted by various enemies. As each of the key players begins to follow a trail of clues, they uncover a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), a brilliant but vengeful mind with a personal vendetta against Ross.
THE GOOD / THE BAD
There’s no doubt that I’ve been a fan of the MCU for quite some time—basically since its inception. While some entries are stronger than others and a few of the newer installments have left me feeling a bit disenchanted due to their aimless direction, the cinematic universe as a whole has continued to grow and mature. What started as a relatively simple idea—bringing a handful of superheroes to the big screen, has exploded into a massive shared universe filled with heroes, villains, rogues, and monsters. It’s truly become one of the juggernauts of modern blockbuster filmmaking, and with all the future plans Marvel has laid out, it doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.
Naturally, the journey of Steve Rogers has been one of the most compelling arcs in the MCU. Watching Captain America rise through the ranks across multiple films has been a true highlight. The symbolism and ideals that the character stands for are powerfully portrayed, often leading to moments of conflict with others, but also proving why he stands as a moral compass within the franchise. Of course, a major part of bringing that persona to life comes down to Chris Evans, whose portrayal of Steve Rogers has been nothing short of iconic. Evans not only delivered the physicality of the role, but also infused the character with heart, resolve, and quiet strength. To me, Captain America served as the “beating heart” of the MCU, just as Tony Stark/Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.) represented the franchise’s “brilliant mind”, a perfect duality between two very different heroes.
And then there are the adventures themselves. The Winter Soldier is widely considered a turning point for the MCU, adding political depth and emotional weight to what could’ve been just another superhero sequel, while Civil War showed that “clash of superhero” mentality against Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark was sheer brilliance. It was also rewarding to see Rogers take a central role in the Avengers films, standing proudly alongside Iron Man and Thor and many others of “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” against powerful foes. In the end, while every fan has their favorite Marvel hero, there’s no denying the impact Chris Evans had in bringing Captain America to life, gracefully, powerfully, and as a true symbol of hope for fans and characters alike.
This brings me back to Captain America: Brave New World, a 2025 superhero film—the 35th overall entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the fourth Captain America film, and a follow-up to the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Given everything that played out in that show, it was safe to assume that another feature-length film was “in the cards” for Sam Wilson, who officially took up the Captain America mantle. Like the series, the movie fits squarely into the MCU’s more “grounded narratives” and marks the first theatrical installment to feature Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as the new Captain America.
Of course, there was plenty of skepticism surrounding the project—including from me—about how it would handle its story and characters, especially in a “post-Avengers: Endgame” world where most MCU projects, whether film or TV, have leaned into cosmic adventures, fantasy elements, or the multiverse. Still, the promise was enticing, with Kevin Feige himself claiming the movie would return to its “street-level” narrative roots, something more akin to Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Soon enough, trailers began appearing online and in theaters, teasing a more espionage-driven tale filled with secrets, lies, and political coverups, with Sam Wilson right at the center. I’ll admit, it looked interesting. And yet, something about it felt off. Like there was too much hype being placed on this one film.
Still, I was genuinely curious to see what Captain America: Brave New World would bring to the table. Originally scheduled for a 2024 release, it was pushed back to February 14, 2025, due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. I caught the movie during its opening weekend, but due to my work schedule and a backlog of 2024 reviews, I had to hold off on writing this one. Now, with all of that out of the way, I’m finally ready to share my thoughts. So, what did I think? Sadly, Captain America: Brave New World didn’t live up to its own hype. Despite a few solid moments and a clear effort to carve out its own space in this shared cinematic universe, the film ultimately feels like a dull and predictable paint-by-numbers MCU entry. It does little to push the narrative forward, with a simplistic story and flat characters that never quite reach the potential the movie was aiming for.
Captain America: Brave New World is directed by Julius Onah, whose previous works include Luce, Bad Genius, and The Cloverfield Paradox. While I’m unfamiliar with two of those films, I do remember seeing The Cloverfield Paradox, and I found it derivative and utterly contrived. It had a great cast, but the storytelling and execution were severely lacking. With that memory lingering, I had my doubts about how Onah would handle a major superhero film, especially one with such a prominent place in the MCU.
That said, Onah does manage to find some solid footing here. To his credit, he stays true to Kevin Feige’s promise of returning to a more “grounded” or “street-level” narrative, something recent MCU entries have largely steered away from. Aside from one or two background elements and the usual nods to the wider shared universe, Brave New World is presented as a political espionage thriller, one that clearly draws inspiration from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, still considered by many to be one of the franchise’s best entries.
In fact, it’s somewhat refreshing to see a Marvel film return to this style, especially after so many recent installments have tried too hard to either reinvent the formula or overly tie themselves into the broader saga….namely, The Multiverse Saga. So, regardless of what one may think of the movie as a whole, Onah deserves some credit for keeping the film’s narrative grounded and distanced from the chaos of cosmic plots and alternate realities.
Given all that, Onah approaches Brave New World with a structure and stylistic flavor reminiscent of The Winter Soldier, incorporating political agendas and motivations to help drive the story forward. It’s a direction that largely works, pitting Wilson and his allies against the maneuverings of government agencies and national interests, all while trying to uncover Sterns’s involvement, particularly in relation to Ross. While not the most original or groundbreaking storytelling approach, it serves the film’s purpose well, grounding the narrative in real-world espionage themes rather than diving headfirst into larger-than-life superhero theatrics. This adds a welcome layer of ambiguity and covert operations, and Onah clearly relishes the opportunity to explore that territory.
Naturally, the film still leans into the familiar tropes and nuances expected of an MCU production, including its blending of action set pieces and comedic beats on a blockbuster scale. Personally, I appreciated several of the moments Onah crafted throughout the film. I understand that this tried-and-true formula has become something of a double-edged sword, and, yes, it does begin to wear thin in certain places (more on that later), but it still acts as a narrative anchor. More often than not, it helps keep the movie focused and grounded.
One interesting aspect the movie does well is finally acknowledging a few lingering threads from past MCU films, some of which had either gone dormant or were never fully addressed. The first example comes from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, the second film in the MCU timeline and one that’s largely been forgotten by many viewers. However, director Julius Onah seems to embrace the opportunity to revisit that chapter by bringing several characters and motivations back into focus. This includes the reasoning behind Ross’s actions following the events of that film, his estranged relationship with his daughter Betty, and the reappearance of Samuel Sterns. It’s a bold move, and one I genuinely appreciated.
Similarly, the film also revisits a major unresolved element from 2021’s The Eternals, addressing a significant presence that had been left in question for quite some time. Without spoiling anything, this element becomes a sort of focal point, both in terms of political debate and as the source of something rather intriguing. Brave New World smartly weaves these long-dormant narrative threads back into the fold, helping tie up loose ends while expanding the MCU’s larger storyline in a subtle, yet meaningful way.
In terms of presentation, Brave New World meets the industry standards that many have come to expect from a Marvel Studios production, especially with Disney’s “deep pockets” backing the project. Everything from the background details to the set pieces and costume design feels appropriate for the film’s modern-day setting, while still offering occasional flourishes of superhero aesthetics. The contemporary look blends nicely with the political and espionage-driven narrative, resulting in a visually pleasing experience that supports the story’s tone. Credit goes to the “behind-the-scenes” crew—Ramsey Avery (production design), Rosemary Brandenburg (set decoration), Gersha Phillips (costume design), and the entire art direction team, for bringing this world to life in such a vivid and detailed way.
Complementing that, the cinematography by Kramer Morgenthau is solid throughout most of the film. While it’s not particularly groundbreaking, Morgenthau hits the expected benchmarks, using sweeping shots and cinematic techniques to enhance key scenes in the right places. The musical score, composed by Laura Karpman, is similarly serviceable. It delivers the right tone during action and suspenseful moments and knows when to pull back during quieter, character-driven scenes. Like the cinematography, the score isn’t anything exceptional, but it works. It gets the job done, and at the end of the day, that’s what really matters.
Unfortunately, Captain America: Brave New World, for all its hype and anticipation, fails to meet the superhero expectations it sets up, and ends up being problematic from the very start, losing steam and potential as it goes. How so? Well, for starters, the movie is (frankly) boring and derivative. I know those are strong words to use for a Marvel film, but it’s the truth. With a runtime of approximately 118 minutes (just under two hours), the film is a relatively manageable length, yet it somehow feels both shallow in some areas and overstuffed in others. The pacing is uneven throughout, making it difficult for the film to build and maintain meaningful momentum.
It’s clear that director Julius Onah is striving to give Brave New World the same “it” factor that made The Winter Soldier so successful, emulating similar beats in tone, structure, and character arcs. The problem is that much of it comes across as a carbon copy, recycling aesthetics and plot mechanics without the same narrative finesse. The final result feels more like an imitation than a spiritual successor, lacking the movie magic that The Winter Soldier achieved so effortlessly.
This issue is compounded by the film’s script, which is both derivative and uneven. There are pieces and ideas within the narrative that show promise, but the execution is sorely lacking. With a writing team that includes Onah, Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, and Peter Glanz, the script falls victim to the classic “too many cooks in the kitchen” problem. The story feels muddled and unfocused, with threads that are either loosely held together or hastily patched in. While the plot is technically cohesive, it’s presented in a fragmented and rudimentary fashion, ultimately lacking originality and a strong creative voice. Much of it feels like superhero storytelling on autopilot, borrowing too heavily from past MCU successes without forging its own identity.
The film’s action sequences, sadly, don’t fare much better. While there are action beats sprinkled throughout, they feel uninspired, lacking tension and visual creativity. The scenes unfold with a dull familiarity, showcasing the same old superhero fight choreography we’ve seen countless times before in the franchise. There’s little spark or flair here, just bland, repetitive set pieces that barely register excitement. And for a major MCU blockbuster, that’s never a good sign.
Even the third-act climax, which the film spends the entire story building toward, falls flat. It plays more like a second-act set piece than a true finale, and the showdown lacks the climactic punch it desperately needed. In fact, much of this sequence was already showcased in the film’s trailers and marketing materials, leaving little surprise or excitement when it finally plays out on screen. It’s all too familiar, too predictable. The film’s closing moments try to tie everything up quickly, but the resolution feels rushed, generic, and emotionally hollow.
Basically, nearly every aspect of Brave New World feels like it’s running on autopilot, and that’s a major misstep for a movie that should’ve been a bold, defining chapter in the next era of Captain America.
Moreover, the cast of Brave New World is something of a mixed bag, and that’s a bit disappointing. While no one delivers what could be considered a truly bad performance, very few actors leave a lasting impression, whether due to how their characters were written or the direction provided by Onah. Leading the charge is Anthony Mackie, returning once again as Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Captain America. Known for his roles in The Hurt Locker, Altered Carbon, and Detroit, Mackie has carved out a solid reputation, especially through his continued presence in the MCU. Over the years, he’s grown into the role of Falcon, and his transition into Captain America, teased at the end of Avengers: Endgame and solidified in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, was something fans were eager to see fully realized.
Naturally, seeing him finally step into the mantle on the big screen in this movie should’ve been a rewarding moment. However, the result feels surprisingly lukewarm. The main issue? Sam Wilson’s character feels stagnant throughout the film, lacking any real growth or evolution. From beginning to end, he largely remains the same, even as major events and revelations unfold around him. Mackie does his best with the material he’s given, but it’s clear he’s limited by a script that doesn’t allow him the space to deliver a compelling superhero character arc. I still like Mackie in the role of Sam, both as Falcon and now as Captain America, which makes it all the more frustrating to watch such a capable lead get stuck in a meandering, lackluster storyline.
Faring better, and arguably the best performance in the movie, is actor Harrison Ford, who makes his first official appearance in the MCU as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, the former Secretary of State who now serves as President of the United States during the events of the film. Known for his iconic roles in the Indiana Jones franchise and the Star Wars saga, Ford hardly needs an introduction, and his on-screen presence is always a welcome addition to any project. So it comes as no surprise that he slides effortlessly into the role, fitting into the MCU with ease.
Of course, Ford takes over the character from the late William Hurt, who had portrayed Ross in several previous MCU films, beginning with The Incredible Hulk. However, in most of those appearances, Hurt’s version of Ross was relegated to minor supporting roles or cameo-like moments. Brave New World, by contrast, gives the character significantly more screen time and development, and it’s all the better for it. Ford’s low, gravelly voice suits the character well, and he handles the film’s emotional and dramatic beats with confidence. It was refreshing to see Ross given more depth and narrative presence, and I’d be glad to see Ford reprise the role in future projects. That said, while the character arc is intriguing, it could’ve used a bit more substance in places, especially considering that some key elements were already revealed in the film’s trailers, which lessens the impact.
In a more supporting role, we’re introduced to Joaquin Torres, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force who takes up the mantle of Falcon, played by actor Danny Ramirez (Assassination Nation, Top Gun: Maverick). I remember both the character and Ramirez from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, so his presence in this film doesn’t feel out of place. In fact, it makes sense for someone like Torres to step into the Falcon role, given the narrative progression. Unfortunately, the character fails to make much of an impact in Brave New World and comes across more as a wooden stand-in for other characters to bounce dialogue or ideas off of.
Ramirez is a solid actor, there’s no denying that, but unlike Mackie’s debut as Sam Wilson back in The Winter Soldier, he doesn’t bring anything particularly memorable to the performance. As a result, Torres ends up feeling flat and somewhat superfluous. The groundwork for the character is there, but the execution leaves him underdeveloped and forgettable.
The same can be also said for the character of Ruth Bat-Seraph, an Israeli former Black Widow who serves as President Ross’s security advisor, and who is played by actress Shira Haas (Shtisel and The Conductor). Like many other characters in this picture, Ruth isn’t afforded much screen time to be fully developed, even as a supporting players in the story. As such, she becomes rather bland and forgetful. Haas acting is fine in the movie, but isn’t afforded the opportunity to shine, leaving her (and her portrayal of Ruth) not much memorable impact on the film.
As for the villains in Brave New World, they unfortunately fare the worst, mostly due to how they’re presented and ultimately written into the story. The main antagonist of the film is Samuel Sterns, a cellular biologist who was accidentally exposed to Bruce Banner’s blood during the events of The Incredible Hulk, resulting in superhuman intelligence. He’s once again portrayed by actor Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs). As I mentioned earlier, it’s refreshing to see elements from The Incredible Hulk resurface, especially the long-unanswered fate of Sterns, whose storyline was left hanging back in 2008.
Unfortunately, Sterns as a character comes off as bland and underwhelming. His motives are clear, but they don’t amount to much, feeling somewhat derivative, almost as if the film borrowed lightly from Zemo’s arc in Captain America: Civil War, if you catch my drift. Nelson is a capable actor and does fine with what he’s given, but Sterns never feels like a legitimate threat to either Sam Wilson or President Ross. The movie builds up to a key moment involving his character, but the payoff ends up being tame and, frankly, a little disappointing. There was real potential for Sterns to evolve into a more compelling and formidable villain, but the film plays it too safe, resulting in yet another forgettable antagonist.
Behind him, the next antagonist, or rather semi-antagonist, in the film is Seth Voelker (a.k.a. Sidewinder), the leader of the special ops team known as Serpent, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Jungle Book). The major issue here is that the character feels underdeveloped from the outset and, like much else in the film, quickly gets pushed to the background. Esposito is undoubtedly a talented actor and carries himself well whenever he’s on screen, but he’s given so little material to work with that Sidewinder ends up feeling like a forgettable presence, disappointing, considering the potential he had.
The rest of the supporting cast includes actress Xosha Roquemore (Precious, Family Switch) as Secret Service agent Lelia Taylor, actor Carl Lumbly (Alias, Men of Honor) as Korean War veteran Isaiah Bradley, actor Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Vikings: Valhalla, Game of Thrones) as Serpent team member Copperhead, actor William Mark McCullough (Sweet Magnolias, The Unseen) as military commander Dennis Durphy, and actor Takehiro Hira (Gran Turismo, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) as Prime Minister Ozaki. Naturally, some have more screen time than others, and while the acting is solid across the board, several characters ultimately come across as underwritten and generic.
Lastly, in classic Marvel fashion, Brave New World includes one post-credit scene. I won’t spoil what it is, but it does offer a glimpse at what may be coming next in the MCU, hinting at the emergence of the next major threat on the horizon.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Seeking answers to exonerate his friend, Sam Wilson follows a trail of clues that leads him to an unexpected enemy, while President Ross grapples with both external pressures from global leaders and a hidden threat from within, in Captain America: Brave New World. Director Julius Onah’s latest entry aims to usher in the next-generation Captain America while returning to the MCU’s more grounded, street-level roots. With its mix of superhero flourishes, political drama, and espionage elements, the film sets the stage for a more focused narrative…. at least on paper. Unfortunately, despite those intentions, the film fails to deliver the level of excitement and suspense one would expect from a major Marvel installment. The blame lies in several areas: Onah’s uneven direction, a predictable and formulaic story, uninspired action sequences, flat character development, and underutilized acting talent. Personally, I found Brave New World to be a major disappointment—and that’s saying something coming from a longtime MCU fan. While there are a few moments and ideas that work, the majority of the film feels lackluster and derivative, lacking its own voice and relying too heavily on recycled concepts from stronger entries in the franchise. It functions, but only just, and nowhere near as effectively as it could have. If anything, this film adds fuel to the argument that the MCU’s creative engine might be running low on steam. For me, Brave New World scrapes the bottom of the MCU barrel and ends up being the weakest installment so far, not in a catastrophic way, but in a frustratingly “meh” fashion. My recommendation? It’s an “iffy choice” at best, perhaps worth checking out only for those mildly curious about what’s next for Sam Wilson or the MCU at large. Otherwise, it’s likely a “skip it” for most viewers, as it contributes very little to the overarching saga beyond a few scattered moments. Yes, the post-credit scene teases a larger event on the horizon, but as for the future of the Captain America franchise. That remains uncertain. For now, Captain America: Brave New World serves as yet another cautionary tale for the MCU: a shared universe still charging forward, even when the results are this tiresomely bland and creatively recycled.
2.5 Out of 5 (Iffy Choice / Skip It)
The Official Website for Captain America: Brave New World Link: HERE
Released On: February 14th, 2025
Reviewed On: May 11th, 2025
Captain America: Brave New World is 118 minutes and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some strong language
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