As we enter 2025 the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is in a bit of a bind with the “Multiverse Saga” approaching its big finale. After some underwhelming box office and mixed reviews for their Disney+ shows, Marvel Studios needs to get us hyped for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Following a quieter 2024, which featured one great film and several TV series, Marvel is making a strong comeback in 2025 with three big ensemble movies and two major shows, starting with Captain America: Brave New World.

Captain America: Brave New World has a tough task ahead of it. It follows one of the most beloved trilogies in the MCU and continues the story from Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The movie also ties up loose ends from The Incredible Hulk and Eternals, two of the less popular movies in the franchise. Unfortunately for fans hoping for a big comeback, Captain America: Brave New World might end up being one of the weaker movies in the MCU.

Plot Overview

Set a few months after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Captain America: Brave New World sees Sam Wilson finally embracing his new role as Captain America after Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) hangs up his shield. But Wilson has a complicated history with the new President of the United States, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (Harrison Ford) who is an old enemy of the anti-Sokovia Accords Avengers. As both characters try to put the past behind them, things get hairy when an old villain shows up and threatens to blow a conspiracy that’s been bubbling for over ten years.

The film tries to be a spy movie like The Winter Soldier, which is the best of the MCU for its focus on government surveillance and overreach. Unfortunately Brave New World doesn’t offer much more than the idea that “bad government is bad”. One big problem is it’s very predictable and lacks the twists that make a good spy movie interesting. The cameos feel like fan service rather than part of the story.

Action and Visuals

Instead of compensating for its weak story with action scenes Captain America: Brave New World fails again. The action scenes are predictable and not as creative or intense as the previous Captain America movies. The only good part is the Red Hulk ending which is fun but not enough to save the movie.

Visually the movie has many problems most of which are due to a lot of reshoots. The heavy use of green screen is obvious even in simple dialogue scenes making it look fake and unconvincing. Lack of realism takes away from the movie’s ability to pull you in making it feel like a product of editing rather than a complete movie. The CGI effects are especially disappointing, with some scenes looking less believable than those in The Incredible Hulk, a movie that came out almost twenty years ago.

Characterization and Dialogue

The writing is another issue. The dialogue is full of boring one-liners, making this is the most unfunny MCU movie. Anthony Mackie who normally brings charm is restrained and doesn’t bring the depth and energy we expect from Sam Wilson. . Supporting characters like Shira Haas as Ruth Bat-Seraph and Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder are nowhere and don’t make an impact.

But some people do shine despite the overall mediocrity. Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross brings humanity to a character that is usually seen as unlikable. Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley is the emotional center of the movie and has a great performance that adds to the story. Danny Ramirez as Sam’s friend Joaquin Torres brings some fun moments and Tim Blake Nelson as The Leader opens up interesting possibilities for the future of the MCU even if the plot is a mess.

Conclusion

In the end, Captain America: Brave New World is a disappointing start for Marvel's 2025 lineup, raising worries about the upcoming Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The film's problems remind us of Sony's earlier mistakes when trying to create its own Marvel universe, falling short of the high standards set by previous MCU films. In trying to handle too many storylines and character arcs, Brave New World forgets what made Captain America such a beloved character in the first place. The result is a confusing story, dull visuals, and an experience that doesn't connect with audiences. For a character as iconic as Captain America, this film is a big letdown.