RIOTUS

BY ULYSSES CAMPBELL

Captain America: Brave New World is Marvel’s attempt at a reset following disappointing box office performances by two of three of their last theatrical releases. Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels essentially flopped, particularly by Marvel standards. While pundits blame a phenomenon they’ve termed ‘superhero fatigue’ as the cause, the success of Deadpool & Wolverine (originally a FOX franchise) suggests that might be an oversimplification. Nevertheless, the studio reduced its planned output in an effort to eliminate the likelihood of oversaturation.  

The gamble isn’t a bad one. Captain America: Brave New World is a fast-paced, exciting, and complex movie. And, like the earlier Captain America sequels, this one is also a political thriller.  

Sam Wilson has settled into his role as the new Captain America following the retirement of Steve Rogers. His heroics are embraced by a grateful nation, including the recently elected president, Thaddeus Ross. Of course, Ross is a former US Army general and cabinet secretary who shepherded the controversial Sokovia Accords through the United Nations. Ross wants to enlist Cap’s help as he works on his latest policy initiative; an international treaty for sharing the mineral resource discovered on the island landmass of the Celestial Tiamut in the Indian Ocean. But an attempt on President Ross’ life by Cap’s close friend Isiah Bradley threatens to derail the treaty and destabilize international relations. Can Captain America identify the real assassin, clear his friend, and manage to avert war?   

Captain America: Brave New World stars Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, and Danny Ramirez. Supporting players are: Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito, and Xosha Roquemore. 

Despite the title, in many ways, this film is a sequel to 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. A number of characters and story elements from that movie are central here, not only The Hulk. There are numerous references, made very casually, to many other MCU movies. In fact, it felt like Marvel swept all of its dangling plotlines into this movie. And it isn’t as if they don’t work. Just that a major criticism of Marvel, now 35 movies in, is it’s difficult to keep track of what’s happening. Keeping the story straight is tough unless the viewer has seen all or most of the previous installments. This doesn’t help that assessment. Although, a factor may be the rewrite process. Initially, there was confusion about whether this picture would build on the events of the Disney Plus series, The Falcon & The Winter Soldier. Rob Edward, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, and Peter Glanz are credited for the story and screenplay, along with director Julius Onah; and the movie’s release was delayed partly due to the Hollywood strikes and creative revisions. 

Onah got a break on this picture. His directorial credits are relatively thin with a number of shorts and even a music video. But although this is only his fourth feature-length project he handles the material well. 

Captain America: Brave New World demonstrates all the stuff audiences have come to expect from Marvel movies: action, drama, great effects, heroics. The soft reset may succeed in getting crowds back. The careful selection of the opening date doesn’t hurt either. Presidents’ Day weekend this year has no other competing major releases. Anthony Mackie is likable and engaging. He carries the movie effortlessly, and the ever-reliable Harrison Ford offers a wonderful foil for Mackie. 

Captain America: Brave New World runs a brisk 1h 58m. It is rated PG-13 for action, adventure, sci-fi. There’s no sex and the action sequences aren’t graphic or particularly intense. You can take kids as young as 10 or 11. Although, younger children probably won’t be able to keep up with the complicated political storyline. 

In the end, it’s an entertaining movie with plenty of fan service; everything audiences have come to expect from Marvel Studios. This Captain American is the hero that we need now.

GRADE: C+