Captain America: Brave New World is another reminder that somehow the Marvel Cinematic Universe lost its ability to wow us. The MCU had a wonderful synergy that made each film a piece of a larger puzzle. When watched in chronological order they took us on a spectacular journey. Brave New World is the next to last film in Phase 5 of the MCU. a phase that has delivered only a few shining moments.
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.
If you are not familiar with the Marvel timeline and history you may want to first watch the Falcon and the Winter Soldier series on Disney Plus as well as the 2008 film, The Incredible Hulk. This will help educate you with the characters in play here. Though in the current timeline, Brave New World is most certainly connected most to the 2008 Hulk film.
General ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross (Harrison Ford) is now President Ross. Sam Wilson is still struggling with his new role as Captain America. Ross has never been a fan or supporter of the Avengers. When he asks Wilson for help on a project Sam has to decide if he can trust him. As the story unfolds we get a fuzzy and mix-mashed story that tries to push the Avenger narrative forward. Many have probably forgotten much of the 2008 film in which Ed Norton played Hulk. Most are more familiar with the Mark Ruffalo Bruce Banner in the later flicks.
Many of the characters are back in this one – if only briefly – with the same actors reprising their roles 17-years later. Ford takes over the role of Ross due to the passing of actor William Hurt. Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) has been locked away in a military prison this whole time and wants nothing more than to get revenge on Ross. Even Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), Thunderbolts daughter, plays a small part in this one. But again this addition too just feels like an excuse to try and resuscitate a lost cause.
To be honest I am not sure what the point of this one is. If it is to launch us into Phase 6 it does not bode well. We still have The Thunderbolts* coming in May. It is the last film in Phase 5 and may or may not give us something close to what we hope for. We are too far removed from 2008 for this to be taken as a serious sequel. If anything it feels like an after thought and an attempt to convice us that Sam Wilson can carry the torch – and shield – into the future. Sam’s struggles with his own limitations mirror our own. This is in no way the fault of Mackie or the character arc. It has more to do with the inability of the creators to give us something worthy of the character.
Captain America: Brave New World is entertaining for the most part. There is some humor and enough action to destroy several buildings in true super hero style. Those who long for the old days will continue to be frustrated with this one. There is no harmony or passion. The characters feel forced and out of place. Every attempt to draw us in just seems manipulative. If you are entering the MCU for the first time you might be confused by all the hate. The rest of us just long for yesterday.
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