“Captain America: Brave New World” is not perfect but with where the MCU is now, it had to be

“Captain America: Brave New World” is already a box office success. In its opening weekend alone, the $180 million MCU title already raked in $192,400,000 worldwide. Yet audience reception seems to indicate otherwise. 

The fourth “Captain America” entry so far managed a 50 percent critic and 80 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes while getting an even lower 42 and 4.6 rating for critics and general users respectively on Metacritic. A quick look at the general opinion sees fans divided across two extremes: one side praising the performances of Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford; the other, viewing the project a mess on all fronts and the latest nail in the imminent MCU coffin.

Why? Leading up to its release, the film faced both internal roadblocks and external criticism prejudiced by the MCU’s recent mishaps. Fans were not convinced Mackie could lead a solo title the same way Chris Evans did. There was also a growing sentiment that the MCU had lost its way post-Endgame. During the film’s production, “Captain America: Brave New World” reportedly underwent numerous reshoots following a disappointing test screening.

“Captain America: Brave New World” is not the perfect film. Barring circumstances outside Marvel and Disney’s control, it is also far from Marvel’s worst. But with where the MCU is now, it just had to be good.

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What the film is and what it isn’t

Aside from the pressure of being the first on-screen Black Captain America, Mackie also carried the immense responsibility of filling the void left by Evans. Yet with many waiting on Mackie’s failure as proof of the MCU’s mistake in handing him the Captain America mantle, the once sidekick proved himself capable of helming a solo movie while separating himself from Evan’s portrayal of the character.

Despite Mackie’s stellar performance, the character of Sam Wilson did not benefit from the writing and direction of the film. “Captain America: Brave New World” felt more like the sequel to 2008’s “Incredible Hulk” rather than a fresh Captain America entry.

Wilson, at points, did not fit the film’s plot and seemed more like a substitute for Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner. And while we’re talking about Mackie coming to his own as Captain America, it did not help that his character was too dependent on Wakandan Vibranium—so much so that he would’ve practically been useless without it.

Harrison Ford, on the other hand, stood out as President Thaddeus Ross. Ford brought nuance to a character we only knew as someone who distrusted superheroes. His character arc was properly developed throughout the film, and any changes in heart did not seem forced or rushed but were teased and built up for that exact moment. It was a proper tribute to the late William Hurt.

Red Hulk was also undoubtedly the best part of the film. Despite his limited screentime, the raging giant reminded us of the sheer strength and tenacity of a Hulk—which the character, as many have pointed out, has been reduced to a laughing stock in recent years.

Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres also impressed. Despite initially coming off as a superhero fanboy to eventually becoming his own hero, Torres brought humor and lightness to the film while also undergoing a character arc that sees him truly understanding the weight and pressure that comes with being a superhero.

On the flip side, “Captain America: Brave New World” suffers from a long list of issues that prevent it from being a top-tier MCU entry.

CGI – Despite several set pieces that truly blow the mind, multiple sequences and important character moments were ruined by scenes blatantly shot in front of a green screen.

Giancarlo Esposito – The high-profile actor was heavily underutilized and cast aside. 

The post-credit scene – You’d have to sit through the entire credits to see a brief conversation about a topic we all already know, said in the dumbest way possible. 

Captain America caught in the crossfire

Not to excuse any production mishaps and creative misfires, “Captain America: Brave New World” is also a victim of circumstance.

The casting of Israeli actress Shira Haas caught the ire of onlookers given the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Adjusting her identity to that of an ex-Widow instead of emphasizing her Israeli origin didn’t seem to matter also, as the film faced backlash and boycotts from varying oppositions.

Arguably the last remnant of the past MCU’s trajectory, “Captain America: Brave New World” also suffers from the studio’s last-minute shift from Jonathan Majors’ Kang to RDJ’s Dr. Doom, where it seemed unclear where the MCU was heading post-Endgame—more so now that the studio had to pivot midway.

At the crux of it all, the new Captain America film is at the mercy of an avalanche of MCU frustration. The movie, being the first since Kevin Feige announced Marvel’s plan post-Majors, was met with immense pressure to deliver—to usher in a new era for the MCU. 

It unfortunately did not turn out that way, but we’re still looking forward to “Thunderbolts*” and “The Fantastic 4” to succeed where Captain America failed.