First Captain America: Brave New World Reactions Aren’t Flying High

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) continues its journey in Phase 5, yet keeping up the same level of audience enthusiasm, praise from critics, and impressive box office numbers that made it a cultural juggernaut in the 2010s is proving to be quite challenging. The sole MCU film for 2024, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” humorously acknowledges this predicament, as Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool quips about Marvel being in a bit of a slump.

Marvel Studios didn’t seem to exude confidence by delaying all responses to “Captain America: Brave New World” until two days before its premiere. Although the official review embargo still stands, the social media embargo for the latest “Captain America” installment featuring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson has been lifted. Preliminary reactions suggest that concerns about the film’s quality might be justified.

Initially, many responses to “Brave New World” have been favorable. However, a common sentiment across social media is that this latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe falls short compared to previous movies in the series. Let’s delve into some of the feedback.

People think it would have worked better as a TV show

Captain America: Brave New World” follows Sam Wilson’s journey post-“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+, connecting with other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects. However, critics argue that the film’s narrative is overly reliant on MCU continuity, leaving some viewers surprised and frustrated. On Bluesky, Mike Ryan expressed his disappointment, stating that “CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD appears to be primarily designed to resolve plot threads from The Incredible Hulk and Eternals. In doing so, the storyline becomes as convoluted and dull as that description suggests.

User Joey Magidson from Bluesky shared a perspective similar to yours, describing the movie as “spinning its wheels” and primarily focused on “tying up loose ends from some of the less successful Marvel productions.” Magidson further suggested that “Brave New World” would have been more effective as a TV series instead of a film. In a different review, Robert Kojder stated that the movie is “a bursting blend of characters, plot, action (not forgetting its role as a sequel to several projects) which is devoid of substance and easily forgettable.

It seems as though there’s a great deal of detail to follow along with. As per Bluesky user Hoai-Tran Bui, the film makes up for this by providing excessive explanations for everything. In essence, it’s reminiscent of Marvel adhering to the Netflix guideline about characters constantly verbalizing their actions so an audience that may be easily distracted can still keep pace. This results in a feeling akin to watching an extremely intense series on Disney+.

Even the more positive reactions are mixed

Jonathon Sim, a user on Bluesky, reacted very favorably to “Captain America: Brave New World,” describing it as an engaging political thriller with exciting action and espionage scenes, featuring an exceptional performance by Harrison Ford. However, he felt that the ending was disappointing, similar to how THE WOLVERINE became overly silly in an otherwise serious movie. On the other hand, Matthew Jackson also commended Harrison Ford’s performance but pointed out that the film struggles with common Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) problems, rating it as neither great nor poor overall.

Dave Gonzales, one of the authors of the book “MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios,” shared a similar sentiment: “I’ve watched many poor films, and this one isn’t terrible (actually, I appreciate the Final Red Hulk VFX), but it lacks excitement and thrill.” He believes that the issues with the movie might stem from reshoots, allegedly done to address a poorly received test screening. This leaves him feeling sympathetic towards Mackie and director Julius Onah, as he sees it as a project that “exploits its creators.” He likens its overcrowded feel to “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” and ponders if, like “Ultron,” it could potentially be more enjoyable after viewing its sequels.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can confidently say that Avengers 2.0 got off to an electrifying, thrilling, and powerful start, according to GothamGeekGirl (Nadya Martinez). Similarly, Erik Davis from X was equally amazed, praising the Red Hulk and the numerous hand-to-hand (or hand-to-shield) battle sequences. This fresh installment truly sets the tone for Captain America’s new journey, with the movie laying solid groundwork for what’s to unfold in the MCU – both this year and beyond.

“Captain America: Brave New World” opens in theaters on February 14.

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2025-02-12 15:00