MOVIE REVIEW – Captain America: Brave New World had the potential to be Marvel’s biggest film of the year, but instead, it feels like a tired retread. While it’s the fourth Captain America film, this marks the first time Steve Rogers isn’t the one wielding the shield. Sam Wilson, who inherited the mantle at the end of Avengers: Endgame, now officially steps into the role. The film aims to establish him as a worthy successor, all while navigating political intrigue and lurking adversaries. But does it succeed, or is this just another uninspired entry from Marvel’s assembly line?

Sam Wilson is now a fully realized Captain America, taking center stage just as the United States inaugurates its new president, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford), following the passing of William Hurt’s character. However, when a mysterious assassination attempt puts the “forgotten” Captain America, Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), in the crosshairs, Sam launches an investigation—only to uncover a vengeful mastermind pulling the strings.

The issue with Brave New World is that it tries to recapture the essence of previous Captain America films but ends up drowning in its own redundancy. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier already explored Sam’s internal struggle with taking on the mantle, yet this film simply rehashes those themes without offering anything new. Captain America has always stood out as the hero who puts people first, and while Sam Wilson embodies that spirit, the film still focuses more on Harrison Ford’s President Ross. That wouldn’t necessarily be a problem—if Brave New World were at least entertaining. Unfortunately, it isn’t.

A Bleak and Exhausting Retread

The film desperately attempts to recreate what made past Captain America movies great: the espionage-thriller tone of The Winter Soldier, the globe-spanning conflict of Civil War, and the war drama of The First Avenger. The problem? While Steve Rogers’ films expertly balanced drama and entertainment, Brave New World barely offers anything remotely fun—unless you count the flashy but soulless action sequences.

Marvel’s usual clichés are all present and accounted for: an obligatory action set piece at the beginning (because “that’s how a Marvel movie starts”); Sam’s white suit is swapped for a darker navy version—for no apparent reason other than selling new merchandise. The entire film feels like an empty spectacle, wrapped in a Captain America aesthetic but completely stripped of the heart and character-driven storytelling that made the previous films stand out.

The result? A CGI-heavy Marvel flick whose only real revelation is that this new Captain America is, in fact, *not* Steve Rogers. The one area where the film does differentiate Sam Wilson is in his combat style—his aerial maneuvers and wing-assisted fights are visually striking. But beyond that, Wilson is reduced to a Steve Rogers clone, just surrounded by different supporting characters.

An All-Star Cast Trying to Save a Sinking Ship

If anything could salvage the film, it would be Anthony Mackie. He brings his usual charisma to the role, yet it feels as if the script is actively holding him back. Sam Wilson has always been a fan-favorite in the MCU, but the moment he becomes the lead, all the traits that made him interesting seem to vanish. Brave New World almost forgets why audiences loved him in the first place, leaving us with a dull, lifeless Captain America.

Harrison Ford, on the other hand, delivers a strong performance as President Ross. His arc—transitioning from a hot-headed military figure to someone striving to be a better leader—adds some emotional depth to the film. And, of course, his inevitable transformation into Red Hulk is handled with the gravitas you’d expect from Ford. The CGI in these sequences is surprisingly solid, though the backdrop of cherry blossoms is so artificial that it might as well have a “filmed on a green screen” watermark.

Ultimately, Brave New World embodies everything that’s been holding the MCU back since Endgame. While there’s an attempt to course-correct, the film takes itself too seriously, stripping away the excitement and levity that an Captain America movie should have. And that’s the biggest disappointment—coming from a lifelong Captain America fan, I found almost nothing to love in this film. And that, to put it mildly, is disheartening.

-Herpai Gergely „BadSector”-