SPOILER FREE REVIEW

Synopsis: Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, finds himself in the middle of an international incident and must discover the motive behind a nefarious global plan.

Marvel is attempting to breathe new life into Captain America within their cinematic universe, following the conclusion of Chris Evans' portrayal in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ The latest Cap film has unfortunately fallen short of the Russo Brothers' benchmark set by ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ a decade prior.

Anthony Mackie now dons the shield, bringing physical prowess and flair to the role of Sam Wilson, a character he has refined through his dynamic with Bucky Barnes in their previous series (‘The Falcon And The Winter Soldier’). The narrative extends this arc, introducing Joaquin Torres, portrayed by the affable Danny Ramirez, as the new Falcon. While the duo showcases an inauthentic yet entertaining watch, it's Harrison Ford's portrayal of President Thaddeus Ross that offers the most with his morally grey narrative.

Ford, at 82, convincingly delivers a complex portrayal of the U.S. President, who dramatically transforms into the Red Hulk, revisiting his action-star days reminiscent of his ‘Air Force One’ role. His character can be seen as three-dimensional and the only character worthy of screen time in the entire film — and it’s always a pleasure to witness Harrison Ford doing his thing.

*NOTE: Ford fills the void left behind by the late William Hurt's memorable portrayal of Ross.

As the new Captain America, Sam faces multifaceted threats and is called to the White House by Ross to reunite the Avengers and promote a new initiative involving Adamantium. The plot thickens at a global summit when an assassination attempt on Ross sparks chaos, perpetrated by an unexpected assailant, Isaiah Bradley, a revered Korean War hero and a survivor of super-soldier serum experiments.

Behind the scenes, Giancarlo Esposito's character, Seth Voelker or Sidewinder, leads a mercenary group called Serpent and guides Sam and Joaquin toward the true antagonist, Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), whose intelligence and malevolence are as potent as ever. Sterns, seeking vengeance, employs mind control to orchestrate his schemes. However, Esposito was severely underutilized and his late addition to the production during reshoots weighed heavy on the pacing.

The film delivers bland and visually mind-numbing action sequences, with director Julius Onah trying his best to pay homage ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ during aerial combat scenes. Also, has anyone told Marvel in the past ten years or so that all their films look “washed out?”

The film provides ample opportunities for Mackie to showcase his capabilities, though stepping into Steve Rogers' shoes is a formidable challenge. This transition is acknowledged in the film, setting the stage for Mackie's evolution in the role. However, it often feels like Mackie is strongly restricted by the screenplay, and the overall narrative failing every single character.

‘Cap 4’ feels the need to address certain events from past Marvel films that have no business being discussed in the moment nor in the scene at hand. This is also carried over to the corny dialogue and moments of fizzling humor.

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ parallels current real-world political maneuvers, with fictional plots reflecting ambitions that mirror actual geopolitical strategies. The film's narrative provocatively critiques American foreign policy, but not enough to evoke a genuine, emotional response.

The story is weak, the visuals are bland, the characters are boring. The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a perfect example of the concept being far better than the execution.

Director Julius Onah is far, far better than this. Is Marvel fatigue now taking it’s toll on the creatives behind these mega-franchise films?

Our score: ★★
(out of 5 stars)

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