With Captain America: Brave New World, the first MCU film of the year opens in cinemas this week. But is the collision of the Avengers with the red Hulk worth it?
Before the dark Anti-Avengers and the Fantastic Four take over the Marvel Cinematic Universe this year, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is now making his screen debut as the new Captain America. In Captain America: Brave New World, he is directly confronted with brutal contract killers, political conspiracies and a red Hulk.
The first reactions were surprisingly mixed, and indeed Captain America 4 is not the big highlight that the MCU needs right now. Still wondering whether a trip to the movies is worthwhile? Then here’s a spoiler-free assessment of why Brave New World isn’t the full-blown disaster feared by some.
Captain America 4: Does the movie work without prior knowledge?
Although we are in the middle of the MCU’s multiverse saga, alternative realities play no role in Captain America: Brave New World. The film tells a grounded political thriller story without aliens or wizards, which can also stand on its own. However, three MCU projects are important for the story: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Eternals and The Incredible Hulk.
Watch the trailer for Captain America 4 here:
Although Brave New World is basically a direct thematic sequel to the first Hulk adventure from 2008 (!) and Sam Wilson’s Disney+ debut as the new Captain America, you can watch the movie without prior knowledge. The most important information about past events and returning characters is explained in the film with plenty of exposition.
Action, suspense and a red Hulk: is Captain America 4 worth watching?
Let’s start with the positive: as the new Captain America, Sam Wilson does surprisingly well – without super-strength, but with willpower and optimism. What makes this particularly exciting is that Sam constantly struggles with his role as a hero and fears that he will not be able to live up to the high expectations of a hero named Captain America. The legacy of Steve Rogers weighs heavily on his shoulders as he tries to figure out what he actually stands for.
Even though the title character is different, fans of the previous Captain America films will find many familiar elements. Like The Winter Soldier and Civil War, Brave New World focuses on rough hand-to-hand combat action and political issues with far-reaching consequences. The film rushes through its conspiracy story at a rapid pace, making the almost two-hour runtime fly by.
The paranoia-driven espionage thriller atmosphere is particularly appealing. After an attack on the new US President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), an unknown villain suddenly seems to be able to turn people into killing machines at any moment through mind control, which creates plenty of tension in the film.
Of course, the posters and trailers for the movie already revealed that the president ultimately transforms into a red Hulk and, in rage mode, reduces half of Washington, D.C. to ashes and rubble. These scenes promise plenty of destructive action fun, but the real highlight is his human form: Harrison Ford lends the MCU character of the late actor William Hurt surprisingly emotional facets and inspires with his joy of playing as the unexpected star of the film.
Captain America: Brave New World is frighteningly average
Captain America 4 is certainly not a failure. The movie is neither particularly good nor particularly bad. However, Marvel fans will be disappointed that Brave New World ultimately lacks the emotional impact and bombast of earlier MCU films. The story is unnecessarily complicated at times, yet predictable and, as a remix of familiar elements, quite formulaic when once again a puppet master orchestrates political chaos in the background.
The staging is equally sobering. Except for huge action sequences at lofty heights above a dead celestial and in destroyed Washington, the movie mostly feels more like a Disney+ series than a new MCU blockbuster. On the CGI front, however, there’s surprisingly little to complain about, except for some unsightly green screen effects during the final battle.
Captain America 4 wastes too much potential: the well-played characters Sam Wilson, Thaddeus Ross and the “forgotten Captain America” Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) form a strong foundation, which is immediately undermined by inconsequential supporting characters, such as Giancarlo Esposito’s 0815 hitman Sidewinder, and a weak and erratic script. And 5 minutes of Red Hulk frenzy in front of a pretty cherry blossom background is simply not enough to satisfy the expectations of fans.
The return to a more serious and grounded Marvel adventure and the absence of cameo parades are to be welcomed for the time being. However, those expecting important groundwork for Avengers 5: Doomsday, which is already scheduled to start in 2026, will be disappointed that Captain America 4 adds little that is new to the larger MCU narrative.
After Deadpool & Wolverine finally delivered a must-see event again last year, the mediocrity of Brave New World is a regrettable step backwards. But if you’ve always wanted to see Captain America surfing on a rocket, you’ll still have fun.
