2025 appears to be another stacked year for the MCU, one that will generate excitement and strong skepticism among every fan. Still, coming from a fan like myself, it’s strange that there’s a lack of enthusiasm for releasing their recent entry, Captain America: Brave New World. There’s a strong curiosity to finally see Sam Wilson’s first big-screen outing as the lead, yet none of the trailers and behind-the-scenes rumors boast much confidence that this will be a win during the most divisive years for the studio. And I should’ve been anticipating this since the Captain America trilogy with Steve Rogers was superb, with 2014’s The Winter Soldier and 2026’s Civil War top five favorites. But how does this stand amongst what we’ve gotten lately in the superhero realm? It’s a below-average sequel that doesn’t excite me as much as I wanted.

What’s the Story: Following the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) officially takes on the mantle of Captain America, serving his country to take down threats of all kinds. With the newly elected President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford) running things now, he wants Sam to reform the Avengers while offering a treaty with international leaders with the discovery of adamantium metal from Celestial Island. But after Sam’s friend Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) attempts to assassinate Ross, he has no memory of what occurred, leaving him in jail. This leads Sam to believe he is under some form of mind control, where he goes out of his way to clear his name, only to find himself entangled in a conspiracy he can’t escape.

Some will say Captain America: Brave New World brought Marvel back on its feet, while others say it isn’t. We’re back on the pattern of movies either being excellent or mediocre. This is nowhere near the right track, as it’s probably around the middle. If you haven’t watched the Disney+ series, it’s okay, but this brings you up to speed with the essential details following the show. But what it had going for it was playing along with the political thriller angle that could seriously threaten our hero. Interestingly, as with The Winter Soldier, this didn’t attempt to be even-handed when it sought to be relevant with its messaging. There wasn’t much confidence when I heard Julius Onah was directing after The Cloverfield Paradox underwhelmed many. By that, it’s such a so-so Marvel project that it felt like an extended television series episode based on the look-alone.

But in terms of a Captain America movie, it’s supposed to be fun and thrilling, not have a story that’s rather dull to stay engaged. Maybe because we’re used to the Russo brothers and their frequent writing team having a better grasp on these characters, but Brave New World struggled to find any significant stakes to bring to the table that see Sam becoming the leader he might be destined to be since holding the shield. The first half is rocky when it has the character’s dialogue spoken through the typical exposition that fans know and are there for the others. Even as the plot continues, it won’t surprise anyone who’ll find this less as a standalone Cap sequel and more of a follow-up to 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. A few casting announcements intrigued me about where it would go, but it took them this long to finally tie up some loose ends for one of the earliest MCU entries, which I like more than others. That said, the inclusion of one character, Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), had little impact once his motive was revealed, making for another weak villain with makeup that didn’t look right.

It was about time to see Anthony Mackie take the lead since his character does the same in the comics. Regardless of how you feel about the overall film, he remains a great part of the franchise, whether as the Falcon or as Captain America, taking over from Steve. He gives a performance that doesn’t allow him to have a particular standout moment, but it’s all in Mackie’s effortless charisma that will have many discussing how his take on the hero will make a difference, especially if he’s worthy of following in Steve’s footsteps without having superpowers. Additionally, some of the more poignant character moments stem from his bond with Isaiah to prove his innocence. Harrison Ford takes over from the late William Hurt, which sounds exciting enough, but does it mean this is another role for him to phone in? Thankfully not. Ford’s performance as President Ross is so committed that Ross essentially becomes a co-lead. He’s a man desperately hoping to create a better future for himself while making amends for his past mistakes, which puts him at odds with Sam’s role in the government. It’s also interesting to note that this is the second time he has played a fictional President, following his role in Air Force One.

But both of their arcs, especially Ross’s, hold together as the film’s strongest suit. Giancarlo Esposito, however, is wasted as Seth Voelker/ Sidewinder, who I thought was the actual villain. He was added during reshoots because the script needed to be put in the Serpent Society, but he didn’t make for a memorable villain. I just could not have him in this movie.

In terms of the action sequences, they were okay. The first half was rough, largely due to the hand-to-hand fight alone, one of a few instances that led me to think it had all been reshot, as the stunt choreography didn’t quite hit. The sequences with the military jets around Celestial Island weren’t too bad, except for the notice of lackluster CGI backdrops. However, it became entertaining with the climactic fight between Cap and Red Hulk, which was meant to be the film’s biggest set piece and what the marketing focused on the most. The mere destruction in D.C. will immediately prompt comparisons to the current state of our political climate. And maybe this wasn’t the right fit for Red Hulk, but this needed something to avoid boring everybody.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this is another divisive MCU film, given that it could have been better or taken more risks to captivate its audience. Whether it was the reported issues that dampened the initial anticipation or something else, the results are a film that leaves one uncertain about what the future holds for the year or so. Ultimately, I came out of this not as angry as many others probably have when I’m indifferent about the experience and don’t feel the need to get a second viewing. I’m just hoping Thunderbolts* surprises me next.

Overall, Captain America: Brave New World is another forgettable MCU sequel. While Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford’s performances, along with a few set pieces, will earn mileage, the uninspired storyline doesn’t always do justice to its characters.

Grade: C+