Review: A new Captain America, but familiar themes of political intrigue, in a satisfying 'Brave New World'
It’s a fascinating thread of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that of the four movies with “Captain America” in the title, the last three — including the new one, “Captain America: Brave New World” — play out as political thrillers in disguise.
In “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” possibly the best MCU movie ever, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) learned that the evil Hydra had infiltrated the supposed good guys, S.H.I.E.L.D., all the way up to Nick Fury’s boss, Secretary Alexander Pierce (played by Robert Redford). “Captain America: Civil War” begins with plans by the Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt), to rein in superhero might — and ends with a Sokovian general (Daniel Brühl) manipulating things to set Avenger against Avenger.
With “Brave New World,” director Julius Onah (“Luce,” “The Cloverfield Paradox”) is dealing with a new Captain — Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, inheriting the shield and the responsibility — and a new Thaddeus Ross, with Harrison Ford taking over from Hurt, who died in 2022. But those themes of politics and duplicity under the surface are as strong as ever.
The action starts immediately, with Sam taking part in a mission in Mexico. The assignment is to retrieve a canister stolen by a villain, Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito), who’s being paid by an unseen buyer. Sam diverts from the canister to save some hostages and fight some ancillary baddies, and gets some airborne help from Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), an Air Force intelligence officer who’s training to be Falcon to Sam’s Cap.
The heroics get Sam and Joaquin invited to the White House by Ross, who’s now the president. Sam is wary, considering his past run-ins with Ross, but Ross wants Sam to work on a new project: Bringing back the Avengers.
Sam and Joaquin are also invited to a gala to celebrate a summit to negotiate a treaty over Celestial Island, a giant formation in the Indian Ocean (see Marvel’s “Eternals” for details) that has the richest deposits of a metal even more versatile and strong than vibranium — adamantium. (No Wolverines were harmed in the creation of this MacGuffin.) But the peace-loving vibe of the summit is shattered by an assassination attempt within the White House.
I’ve been skipping over a few details here, because the script that Onah and four other writers have cobbled together doesn’t benefit from too much advance information. Unfortunately, Marvel’s marketing geniuses think too much information — particularly about a certain crimson character — is the only way they’ll get butts in seats.
I will say several characters from past MCU titles make important appearances, such as Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley, a Steve Rogers-era super soldier who was featured with Mackie in the 2021 miniseries “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” There also are some references to the first time we saw Hurt’s Ross, in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk,” notably the inclusion of Tim Blake Nelson in a key role. But the most interesting supporting character is a new one: President Ross’ short-but-potent security expert, Ruth Bat-Seraph, played by the Israeli actress Shira Haas.
Through all the action — some of it quite exciting, some of it oversaturated with computer animation — two thoughtful threads emerge in “Captain America: Brave New World.” One is how Mackie’s Sam wrestles with the responsibility of carrying Cap’s shield, without benefit of super-serum. The other is the idea, at this moment in American history, that the most difficult thing a president has to control is himself.
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‘Captain America: Brave New World’
★★★
Opens Friday, February 14, in theaters everywhere. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some strong language. Running time: 118 minutes.