Kaylee Dillow reporter
“Captain America: Brave New World” is the beginning of a new era in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) , officially introducing Sam Wilson, portrayed by Anthony Mackie, as the new Captain America. Although it was number one at the weekend box office and estimated to be one of the highest-grossing openers, there are mixed reviews towards the plot, antagonist, predictability, and overhyped elements.
One of the most anticipated and advertised aspects of this movie was Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who later transforms into the Red Hulk. Despite Red Hulk being strongly advertised and Marvel’s heavy marketing point, Red Hulk’s screen time was surprisingly limited. In a 118-minute movie, he had a nine-minute appearance. Because of his brief appearance, many fans were left disappointed. The exaggeration of Red Hulk with the stark contrast of his screen time in the movie is a subject of controversy.
“Brave New World” attempts to integrate key points from “Eternals” and “The Incredible Hulk” 17 years later, to create a cohesive storyline within the MCU. Nonetheless, the integration feels forced and messy, with the connections feeling very weak. The movie’s efforts to link these very different movies is criticized for lacking smoothness, leading to a tangled plot that struggles to balance its multiple storylines.
Dialogue throughout the movie is criticized for its lack of depth with many lines coming across as clichés and abnormal from certain characters. This makes it hard to attach to the characters. The script has been highlighted as a distracting problem, affecting the plot and the overall quality of the movie.
Mackie’s performance as Sam Wilson has been a strong point of discussion for both fans and critics. Some praise his dedication and portrayal of the role, while others feel his portrayal lacks the patriotism and charisma associated with Chris Evan’s portrayal of Steve Roger’s, former Captain America. Wilson isn’t a super soldier and didn’t grow up in the time period Rogers did. Many people forget that Wilson isn’t Rogers, and so obviously, Wilson isn’t going to be the same Captain America many watched in the MCU. It will take some time, but people will learn to adapt and accept this new and younger Captain America and the next generation he is leading.
What was perhaps the most bizarre plot development of this movie was that Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of Bucky Barnes, formerly the Winter Soldier, is now a congressman. This development came out of nowhere with little explanation as to how or why he made the career change. Given his history as a brainwashed assassin, his shift into politics feels strongly out of character, especially because of Marvel’s next release, “Thunderbolts,” set to release May of 2025, where Barnes is supposed to portray a vigilante. A congressman just does not seem to align with either movie’s plots. Some fans appreciate a fresh direction, while others see it as a lazy way to push him off from a more meaningful involvement in the plot. Given that Barnes only had about five minutes of screen time, it still was sudden and out of character.
Despite this movie’s potential, “Captain America: Brave New World” falls short of the high bar the MCU has set from previous successes. The Red Hulk hype led to disappointment, Barne’s congressman development feels like a creative misstep, and the attempt to merge multiple MCU movies ends up muddling the overall story. Though this movie is not without its entertaining moments, it fails to deliver the strong, captivating Captain America story fans were hoping for. For die-hard MCU fans, “Brave New World” may still be worth watching. For those looking for a film that strengthens the franchise, this one may not be the movie for you, ultimately leading to disappointment.