Captain America: Brave New World is a Chaotic Misfire with Wasted Potential

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen its fair share of highs and lows, and unfortunately, Captain America: Brave New World lands in the latter category. While Anthony Mackie delivers a strong performance as Sam Wilson and Harrison Ford brings gravitas to his role as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, the excessive reshoots, inconsistent storytelling, and bizar editing choices destroyed what could have been a remarkable superhero blockbuster. Or, should I say, a Hulkbuster.

The Heroes of (Captain) America

Mackie has done an admirable job stepping into the Captain America mantle, embodying both the leadership and internal struggles of Sam Wilson. His presence anchors the film, offering moments of emotional weight and genuine heroism. Despite being surrounded by a shaky script, Mackie’s charisma keeps the film from being entirely unwatchable.

Harrison Ford, stepping into the role of Thaddeus Ross after the passing of William Hurt, brings his signature no-nonsense intensity. His performance is compelling, making Ross one of the film’s few truly engaging characters. However, despite Ford’s efforts, his arc feels rushed and underdeveloped, likely a victim of the film’s chaotic post-production process.

Reshoots & Studio interference

It’s no secret that Brave New World went through extensive reshoots, and the final product feels like a patchwork of conflicting ideas. Scenes seem to exist in isolation, lacking a natural flow, and character motivations shift abruptly. The film’s pacing is erratic, bouncing between sluggish exposition and frantic action sequences that lack real stakes.

One of the biggest casualties of this disjointed storytelling is Liv Tyler’s return as Betty Ross. Her much-anticipated comeback is reduced to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo – same with Bucky (The Winter Soldier), actually.

A Weak Villain & Disorientating Action

The MCU has struggled with compelling antagonists in recent years, and Brave New World continues the trend. Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, is woefully underutilized. Despite being teased as a major threat, his impact on the story is minimal, and his motivations remain vague. Instead of a nuanced, menacing villain, Sterns feels like a side note in a film that should have placed him at the center.

Giancarlo Esposito’s introduction as Sidewinder, the leader of the Serpent Society, initially promises a formidable antagonist and one of the most sinister factions from the comics. Esposito brings his signature intensity to the role, but the character is ultimately underutilized, with the Serpent Society reduced to a generic special-ops team lacking the menace and complexity that could have elevated the film’s stakes.

And of course, we can’t forget about Red Hulk. The character should never have been revealed for marketing purposes. A tease and a nod would have been absolutely fine, but with around 5 minutes on screen, Red Hulk’s appearance felt incredibly underwhelming, as most of the big reveals had been showcased throughout the many, many trailers leading up to the films release.

What made the film particularly awkward and, at times disorientating, were the erratic jump cuts throughout every single action sequence. Nonetheless, it was cool to see an angry hulk once again.

Conclusion

One of Brave New World’s biggest problems is that it doesn’t seem to know what kind of film it wants to be. At times, it tries to be a political thriller, addressing issues of leadership and accountability. Then, because of real-world political decisions, huge parts of the movie are cut for the sake of censorship . Other moments lean into traditional superhero madness, while some sections feel like an extended setup for future MCU projects rather than a cohesive story of its own, and other wrapping up old cameos and easter eggs. The end result is a muddled, directionless film that never fully commits to any of its ideas.

Captain America: Brave New World had all the pieces to be a worthy successor to Steve Rogers’ legacy, but poor execution, a plethora of reshoots, and an unbalanced script prevent it from living up to its potential. While Mackie and Ford do their best to elevate the material, they’re let down by a film that lacks focus and a clear vision.