Claims that “the MCU is back” with Brave New World ring hollow for two reasons: the franchise has never left during its 17-year run, and while this political mystery attempts to channel Winter Soldier’s spirit, it falls short of its predecessor. Sam Wilson’s debut as Captain America is undermined by lackluster editing, inconsistent VFX, and dialogue that too often resorts to explicit exposition (the Netflix tell it all to me dialogue).
The film’s biggest reveal – Red Hulk’s appearance – has been thoroughly spoiled by marketing materials, diminishing what could have been a genuinely exciting surprise. However, let’s face it, the movie would’ve bombed without him in the advertising. Interestingly, Brave New World functions less as a Captain America sequel and more as a follow-up to The Incredible Hulk, finally tying up loose ends from the MCU’s early days. This connection to the franchise’s past proves to be one of the film’s more compelling aspects.
Despite its attempts at intrigue, the film lacks a genuine sense of mystery about the MCU’s future direction. It feels more like an extended television episode than a theatrical release – ironically seeming better suited for Disney+ than the actual TV series was. The narrative serves primarily as a bridge between past and future MCU storylines, scattering references to various films in a way that feels more dutiful than purposeful. We have Incredible Hulk, Eternals, Black Widow, Avengers, Black Panther and more films all get mentions. It is kind of exhausting when it amounts to nothing.
While Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson proves himself a worthy Captain America and Harrison Ford delivers a strong performance as President Thaddeus Ross, Brave New World ultimately fails to live up to its ambitious title. The film suffers from overstuffed plotting within its runtime, underwhelming action sequences, and a mystery that never quite materializes. Though disappointing, at least it sets a baseline from which MCU projects this year can only improve upon.
Bring back the actually mysterious, teasing the future post-credit scenes. I want to leave thinking “woah what is happening next?” Or “I can’t wait for that team-up”.
Score: 2.5/5