Director: Julius Onah 
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford
Certificate: 12A
Run Time: 118 mins

Captain America: Brave New World is the latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the fourth standalone installment for the superhero. Previously playing The Falcon, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson picks up the Captain America mantle from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers after he naturally passed the baton at the end of Avengers: Endgame. 

The Captain America films have always been generally regarded as some of the strongest works in the MCU, with both The Winter Soldier and Civil War having a stellar reputation. Both were directed by the Russo brothers (who went on to helm Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame). To a large extent, I’d agree, although Captain America: The Winter Soldier drops the ball somewhat in its final act.  

Julius Onah takes the director reins with Brave New World, best known for the highly underrated The Cloverfield Paradox. Taking place after The Falcon and Winter Soldier television series, newly-elected president Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford taking over the dearly departed William Hurt) sends Wilson and Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez, the new Falcon) on a Mexican mission to stop the illegal sale of classified items from the villainous Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito). When they return, the pair are invited to a summit at the White House, which all goes wrong when their fellow super soldier friend Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) makes an uncharacteristic attempt on Ross’ life and a political conspiracy ensues. 

Captain America: Brave New World is a real mixed bag. Starting with the positives, the film is always reasonably entertaining and Anthony Mackie makes for a natural and charismatic lead in his first leading film. Mackie’s performance isn’t the only strong one – Carl Lumbly is reliably excellent, as is Giancarlo Esposito (although his Sidewinder villain is sadly underused). 

Harrison Ford makes for an excellent Thaddeus Ross and he gets plenty of screen time. Ford’s phoned in many of his performances in franchise films over the past decade, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. And even though Blade Runner 2049 is an ambitious film, Ford’s performance is one of its weak points. While Ford’s Ross doesn’t feel like a carbon copy of William Hurt, he balances the dishonest and rage-fuelled nature of the character very well. 

I also admired how the film feels rather standalone and doesn’t get too hamstrung in linking to other films in the franchise (although I liked how it progressed several storylines from previous underrated entries). Save for a scene with Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Onah’s film also largely eschews Marvel’s forced humour which plagues some of its films. The climactic action sequence (which has been heavily spoiled in the trailers) is also thrilling and well-shot. 

But the film is sadly pulled down by other factors. Firstly, it’s very evident the film’s been written by five screenwriters – the script is rather stilted in places. The film’s murkily shot by Kramer Morgenthau and it’s pretty ugly in places. He often resorts to quick cuts and save for the final action set-piece, the film’s visually reminiscent of a television series – not good considering the megabucks $180 million budget! 

The score by Laura Karpman is also strange. She completely ignores Alan Silvestri and Henry Jackman’s previous themes – and while that’s fine because she might have wanted to create new themes for Mackie now that he’s in the lead, they’re not memorable in the slighest. Karpman also sprinkles in some commerical singles that are painfully obvious – she committed the same sin when she scored The Marvels. 

And finally, while I won’t spoil the film’s final villain arrangement, the reveal is disappointing and a waste of an excellent actor’s talent with some hideous visuals and make-up. 

Captain America: Brave New World has a lot going for it with its performances and relatively standalone approach to the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe fodder. But it’s a shame that it doesn’t reach its full potential with its mediocre script and visual effects. Out of the Phase Five cohort, Captain America: Brave New World is probably the film I’m most likely to rewatch, alongside Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3, but the fact it still isn’t brilliant is hardly a ringing endorsement. That said, there’s certainly future potential for Anthony Mackie’s superhero if it’s given the right treatment.