Anthony Mackie finally gets to pilot the ship of a big budget Marvel extravaganza. His time as The Falcon as a sidekick technically ended with his starring role in the Disney+ series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, although he shared the lead with Sebastian Stan’s fan favorite sleeper agent-turned-good guy. The one season series was an entertaining and well-written primer for Mackie’s first big movie adventure as the new Captain America. Expectations are high and fans are at the ready as Captain America: Brave New World arrives on Valentine’s Day. While not exactly the delicious box of holiday candy dedicated Marvel disciples are hoping for, it is still a somewhat fun night at the movies. 

Since 2008, when Jon Favreau’s Iron Man blew up the box office and surpassed expectations, Marvel has become the undisputed king of the modern movie studios. As they built their so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe year by year, many of Stan Lee’s creations received their own singular films. Chris Evans’ incarnation as Captain America, Thor, and even Ant-Man enjoyed popular side stories in between their time in the Avengers movies. Among all of them, Captain America had the most consistent run. Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and especially Captain America: Civil War are old fashioned, good-time, adventures full of a creative spark that set them above the rest. Each Captain America chapter continues to stand as the best Marvel Studios has to offer. 

While not a bad film, it is a bit disheartening that Mackie’s first solo adventure as the beloved superhero is lackluster in the ideas department. Written by Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Peter Glanz, Dalan Musson and its director, Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox), Captain America: Brave New World breaks the flawless winning streak of the solo “Cap” movies. Make no mistake, there is a lot going on and viewers probably won’t have a bad time. With five writers at the helm, the whole exercise strangely lacks momentum and the plot is too simplistic to be as broadly designed as it plays. 

Captain America: Brave New World isn’t very brave nor new as it follows the tired template of many entries that have dimmed the MCU shine. The screenplay relies heavily on dull references to films that have been somewhat sidelined by the fanbase. The “celestial mass” of 2021’s poorly received Eternals plays a big part in this film’s plot, while Harrison Ford’s President Thadeus Ross is a role the actor inherited from the late William Hurt, who portrayed the character in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk and a few other Marvel movies. 

The timely plot finds Thaddeus Ross as the newly elected President of the United States who can’t be fully trusted. Formerly an Army general who wanted to destroy Hulk and the Avengers initiative, Ross seeks an image makeover. To do so, he enlists Captain America to work by his side as he negotiates a treaty regarding international rights of the celestial mass in the Indian Ocean. Sam/Cap isn’t sold on working with the man who tried to destroy so much until an assassination attempt on the POTUS leads him on a hunt to find the person behind a cell of sleeper agents. Sam’s mission is even more personal, as his friend and former government super soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbley) is one of the men who was put under the spell and was the one to shoot directly at President Ross. As Sam and his new sidekick/new Falcon Joaquin (Danny Ramirez) set off to solve the ever-growing mystery, director Onah sets the tone for a flashy MCU version of a paranoid political thriller. 

The 70’s conspiracy thriller homage has already been done (very well) in the second Captain America film, even casting Robert Redford as a major villain to sell the idea. We have also had our fill of the “who is behind the sleeper cell assassins” angle. After the Winter Soldier and Isaiah Bradley through-lines, it is time to put sleeper cells to sleep.

Once the main plot is set in motion, the reality of the script becomes clear. There is nothing new to see here. 

Shaky screenplay aside, Captain America: Brave New World has some good moments. The action scenes are well done, if derivative of the other Marvel movies. It is always fun to see Cap’s shield bouncing off of bad guys, breaking bones, and slicing through metal. Mackie’s fight moves are well-executed and the actor’s hard work learning the stunt choreography is on display. Director Onah knows how to shoot action and makes good use of his cinematic canvas. 

The film’s most exciting sequence is an aerial battle where Captain America and The Falcon try to stop rogue American fighter jets from attacking Japanese carriers. As the Japanese military sends their jets into the air to shoot down the Americans, Sam and Joaquin are caught in the middle of an exciting dogfight where no one is the enemy but everyone is trying to bring everyone down. Kramer Morgenthau’s creative camerawork and some sharp editing from Madeline Gavin and Matthew Schmidt combine to make this one hell of a rousing segment. 

Anthony Mackie has always done well as Sam Wilson, but the previous Marvel films didn’t know what to do with him. It wasn’t until his Falcon/Winter Soldier series that the actor had something deeper to work with, erasing any doubt regarding his inevitable appearance as the new Captain America. Mackie has an easygoing confidence and sharp commitment to the character, finding an easy chemistry with Ramirez and a soulful connection with Lumbley. For an actor with such dedication, Brave New World is a decent enough start for the character to take the reins and Mackie makes the most of it; constantly working harder than the screenwriters in the hopes of giving the people what they want.

The great Harrison Ford does his normal late-career grumbly work, but this is an actor who is always genuine and his style works here. Ford is a Hollywood legend and brings gravitas to every role. His presence lifts this film’s credibility and it is fun to see the actor become a double-sided villain. The ridiculous idea for the trailers to spoil Ford’s (no longer) surprise transformation ruins what should have been a jaw-dropping moment for fans. 

The film certainly has action and those scenes are good fun. The character work is less so in the script, but the actors do the heavy lifting, with each cast member (new and old) adding the spark the film cannot find on its own.

Captain America: Brave New World is a strange one. This is a new chapter in the Cap saga, a jumpstart to the next phase of The Avengers, and a sequel to 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. It strives to be its own entity while never straying from the path of the standard Marvel movie checklist. In all MCU films, the framing, editing, scene changes, music, and structure are always the same. 

Audiences won’t have a bad time, but there is nothing memorable on display. This one will vanish from your thoughts not long after you leave the theater.

Still, for a film void of surprises, Brave New World manages to entertain. Pretty much.

Captain America: Brave New World

Written by Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Peter Glanz, Dalan Musson, and Julius Onah

Directed by Julius Onah

Starring Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbley, Shira Haas, Giancarlo Esposito, Xosha Roquemore, Takehiro Hira

PG-13, 118 Minutes, Marvel Studios