He was bestowed the shield in 2019. He accepted the mantle in 2021. Now in 2025, we finally get to see Sam Wilson take the lead in a Captain America movie. To quote Hope Van Dyne, "it's about damn time." But was "Captain America: Brave New World" worth such a long wait? I'd like to think so.
"Brave New World" brings us back to the political thriller genre that was prevalent in "The Winter Soldier" film and the "Falcon and Winter Soldier" series that preceded this film. What also gives the film some charm is how it seems to take Marvel back to their roots by going for a more grounded approach similar to the Phase One and Two era. This is mostly seen with the film's villains like the Serpent Society and main antagonist the Leader, foregoing outlandish costumes for a simple aesthetic.
As he has for over a decade now, Anthony Mackie continues to kill it as Sam Wilson. Picking up approximately a year after "Falcon and Winter Soldier", we find Sam settling into the Captain America role as the events of the film brings his first real test of mettle. Some may see this as retreading ground from the series, but while that was more about accepting Steve's choice in passing the shield, what Sam experiences in this film is living up to the ideals of Captain America and dealing with the pressures that come with it.
With the passing of William Hurt in 2022, the role of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross is taken over by sci-fi legend Harrison Ford. Ford not only makes his own mark as the character but the way he's depicted makes sense for where his journey has brought him. He's an 80-year-old man who's been dealing with superhero crap over two decades and just elected president; the years have worn on him and things aren't getting easier. This eventually boils over into his transformation into the Red Hulk, leading to a good old-fashioned gamma induced rampage not seen since "Age of Ultron". One can also see parallels to real world politics which at the time of production were probably intended to be allegorical but now sadly just feels like wishful thinking.
As I mentioned the Leader before, we see the return of Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, finally paying off a 17-year-old set-up from "The Incredible Hulk". Incarcerated since his last appearance, Sterns is much more cold and calculating, with his gamma powered mind making him a formidable threat. I found Nelson's performance comparable to the Leader's appearance in the "Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes" animated series where he was voiced by Jeffery Combs. I only wish they kept his involvement secret so his appearance would have been a big reveal like the HYDRA twist in "Winter Soldier."
Critically wise, I'm seeing the reception to "Brave New World" comparable to "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" where it's on the lower side of the MCU. Much like "Quantumania", I don't think the hate is deserved. I mean, I will give way to the idea that this could have also worked as a Hulk movie given some of the prominent characters involved. And if I had one personal criticism, it's the fight choreography. When there's special effects involved, things flow pretty well. But when it's straight up hand to hand combat, it feels way more stilted when you compare them to the fight scenes from the Russo Brothers' Captain America films.
While it's no game changer like "Winter Soldier", "Captain America: Brave New World" is an entertaining film that cements Sam's position moving forward in the MCU as we prepare for the Avengers to reassemble next year.
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