Clear for Takeoff

Grab your shield and suit up, because the biggest movie franchise of all time is ready to take flight! Captain America: Brave New World is the latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It serves as the fourth film in the Captain America series and 35th film in the overall franchise. However, this iteration of the star-spangled hero takes a new approach, as the mantle has been taken on by a new face.

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an elderly Steve Rogers–the original Captain America–passed his iconic shield onto Sam Wilson, formerly the Falcon, to carry on his legacy. Wilson’s growth and adaptation to the role were first seen in the 2021 miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Now, he’s back in an all-new cinematic outing which has been widely anticipated for months. 

Unfortunately, the reception hit some turbulence compared to previous Captain America outings. Despite being one of the first big money-making movies of 2025, critics gave the film mixed reviews, with some praising it and others panning it. Even audiences are somewhat split on the film, giving it an average grade of a B- on polling site CinemaScore, the lowest grade of any MCU movie. Yet, I was still excited to check this movie out even with the polarized word-of-mouth.

The Captain America films have always been some of my favorites in the entire MCU, with The Winter Soldier and Civil War–the second and third installments, respectively–ranking among my all-time favorite superhero movies. I love Wilson’s character because of his humor and commitment to being a strong hero. He was developed quite well in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and I wanted to see how Brave New World would further help him to grow as the man in red, white, and blue.  

Ecstatically, I attended a film screening on Thursday, Feb. 20, at the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in Mansfield on Route 57. As the credits rolled, only one question was left on my mind: could this film take Captain America to new heights, or should it have been called down for an emergency landing?

Soaring High

Captain America: Brave New World takes place in the aftermath of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with Wilson serving as the new Captain America. One night, he is invited to an event at the White House by Thaddeus Ross, the newly-elected president of the United States. However, an unexpected attack occurs which nearly kills Ross and shakes the nation. As a result, Wilson and Joaquin Torres–the new Falcon–must team up to uncover the motive behind the incident, leading to a discovery which threatens to start an international war. 

Directed by Julius Onah of The Cloverfield Paradox, the film stars many prolific actors, both old and new to the MCU. These include names such as Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford, among many others.

I am pleased to report that the MCU’s latest outing is a step in the right direction, and a strong addition to the Captain America brand. I found myself enjoying much of the film’s writing, especially with how it develops its conflict. Once the attack on the White House occurs, it instantly sticks with viewers as they try to grasp what is going on. As the story progresses and more is revealed, the stakes are raised as the characters question what might happen next, and even their own motives.

The movie takes a serious and simplistic approach in its core story compared to other MCU projects. Rather than focus on a multiverse story like other recent products like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania or Deadpool & Wolverine, it utilizes a straightforward story with a grounded approach. The action is still present, but it keeps the humor to a minimum in favor of telling a tense story. In turn, it makes for a refreshing spin on the standard MCU formula of mostly jokes and action. It also paved the way for great character moments, especially from Wilson and Ross as they face pressure in their roles as the new Captain America and United States president, respectively. 

The characters in general were mostly well-written and had solid arcs which were developed throughout the story. However, there are also a lot of them, thus making it hard to keep track of. While the main performers–Mackie and Ford–deliver great performances and have engaging arcs, many of the side characters are often swept aside or wasted. 

What doesn’t help is the overabundance of subplots ranging from Ross’s estranged relationship with his daughter to the relationship between him and Samuel Sterns, the main antagonist played by Nelson–reprising his role from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. As a result, the movie would occasionally feel unfocused, as it jumps around between the main plot and several side stories, many of which end up resolved or abandoned in the blink of an eye. 

The Star-Spangled Heroes

This film is accompanied by a wide cast of heroes and villains, all of whom make strong use of the screen time they are given. As I mentioned before, the standout performances for me were Mackie and Ford because of the arcs they build throughout the runtime. Notably, Mackie portrays Wilson as a man who struggles to live up to his own expectations as he grapples with the concept of being the new Captain America. This ultimately leads to some solid dramatic moments between him and the rest of the cast, especially as more details unravel and the conflict becomes more imminent. 

Meanwhile, Ford portrays Ross in the first time the character has been portrayed on screen since the death of the original actor, William Hurt. Ford depicts the president with a committed-yet-intimidating approach, amplified after he is almost killed in the White House attack. As the story progresses, more is revealed about Ross’s intentions and past, primarily regarding his relationship with Sterns. As a result, Ross serves as a greatly developed character, as he tries to move on from his past while feeling the pressure of his current situation as more information comes to light. 

The rest of the characters, even if their side plots or development are stunted, are all portrayed well by their respective actors. Namely, I loved Nelson’s subtle-yet-threatening portrayal of Sterns, Ramirez’s enthusiasm and humor in playing Torres, and Haas’s take on Ruth Bat-Seraph, a former Black Widow whose fight choreography shines in the action sequences. Even Esposito, who has minimal screen time, makes the most of what he is given as Sidewinder, a secondary antagonist who is mostly present in the first half of the film.

An Explosive Temper

A massive selling point in the majority of MCU films is the action, which Brave New World contains plenty of. Not only are the fights shot well and generally easy to keep track of, but they also rank among the most engaging portions of the entire feature, as they bolster strong fight choreography and fitting music which blares through the speakers. The standout sequences for me were an aerial dogfight which occurs midway through, and the final climactic showdown between Wilson and Ross, who undergoes a horrific transformation into Red Hulk–a fight which was heavily featured in the movie’s marketing. 

Despite this, one thing did harm the movie visually: the digital effects. While the shots when Wilson and Torres are flying through the sky generally look fine, the effects take a bit of a downgrade as the final minutes draw near. Unfortunately, the fight between Wilson and Red Hulk receives the worst of the visuals, as they become much more noticeable in the character models and environments. Even the greenscreen effects–when an actor is shot entirely in front of a green backdrop and the movie’s environment is added in digitally–could look visually unappealing and cheap, ultimately breaking the illusion of an otherwise engaging fight. 

After all the action is said and done, in classic MCU fashion, there is also a post-credits scene, which serves as a means of teasing a future project in the franchise. I will not spoil what the credits scene reveals, but I will say that it did leave me a bit conflicted. While I appreciate the intrigue it builds, the execution felt a bit underwhelming and generic compared to many of the other MCU credits scenes. As a result, it doesn’t leave much of a takeaway or impact. Honestly, I feel like the scene is better off watching at home rather than sitting in the theater for 15 minutes waiting for it to show up. 

Moviegoers, Assemble!

Overall, despite some questionable visuals, excessive subplots, and an underwhelming post-credits scene, Captain America: Brave New World is a delightful addition to the MCU thanks to its grounded tone, great lead characters, fun action, strong performances, and engaging main plot. If you’re a fan of Marvel movies, the Captain America brand, or the action genre, I’d recommend checking this one out. 

While it might not live up to the hype which The Winter Soldier and Civil War built, this is still a great time at the movies that succeeds in helping Wilson to cement himself as the new Captain America. Brave New World is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including the local Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas. If you’re looking for a Marvel movie that delivers on the action and isn’t too lost in the multiverse, this is definitely one worth checking out.

This movie flew high and had a steady flight, making for a new enjoyable experience from the MCU that ultimately stuck the landing. 

My Rating