Talk about big shoes to fill.
Anthony Mackie isn’t just taking over for Chris Evans as the star-spangled hero in “Captain America: Brave New World.” Mackie must serve as a bridge to future “Avengers” films while restoring the MCU’s luster.
The “Hurt Locker” alum is up to the task in the moderately satisfying sequel. A few nips and tucks could have elevated the character in ways the struggling franchise demands.
Mackie is now established as Cap as the movie opens, coming off “Avengers: Endgame” and the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”
His Sam Wilson is open to partnering with Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), a frenemy now known as the nation’s new Commander in Chief.
“Get off my plane!” (Wait, that’s another film.)
Cap also is training the “new” Falcon (Danny Ramirez), a headstrong soldier eager to make his mark. The Avenger introduces him to an old friend named Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) as part of his super-heroic training regimen.
Isaiah was part of a super soldier experiment and boasts supernatural strength. He also has a super-chip on his shoulder from being jailed for decades by his own government.
Can’t blame him.
When Isaiah attempts to assassinate President Ross the story activates. The attack threatens a potential treaty between the U.S. and Japan and strains Cap’s ties to the president. And Cap is wondering why his dear friend would attempt something so awful.
What follows is clear-eyed but busy, taped together with big stars and an eagerness to get the franchise back on its feet.
Secondary characters add spark to the proceedings. Lumbly doesn’t get enough screen time, but his haunted face and super-strength are welcome. Shira Haas plays a Secret Service agent and a badass in her own right, although the film takes great pains to hide her real identity.
Yeah, she’s the Israeli superhero known as Sabra.
Giancarlo Esposito gives Cap fits as the venomous Sidewinder, but his character will be confusing to those unfamiliar with comic book lore. Esposito is never less than engaging, but his purpose here feels fuzzy.
A larger foe remains out of focus, but that won’t be the case for long.
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“Brave New World” has a choppy feel that suggests those infamous reshoots left scars. The tensions between the U.S. and Japan are never believable and Ross’s conflicted emotions come across as inconsistent.
It helps to know your cinematic Hulk lore – a previous film’s events weigh heavily in the plot.
Mackie’s Captain America shares his predecessor’s never-say-die pluck, a welcome hangover from Evans’ tenure. He’s more cynical than Steve Rogers, though. Sam has seen too much to be a red, white and blue Boy Scout.
It’s a laudable difference between the two, but the screenplay doesn’t fully embrace it. A late scene suggests Cap’s value as a person of color, but the film isn’t sure what to do with the moment.
Nor does the story reflect the grittier elements of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” That film had an intensity that “Brave New World” lacks.
The events here can be comic-book silly.
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Ross’s disconnect with his estranged daughter Betty (previously played by Liv Tyler) gives the story an unexpected warmth. The old warrior crumbles at the thought of her absence, but he’s still formidable when it counts.
Stars like Ford defy Father Time.
The anticipated Red Hulk appearance doesn’t disappoint. The film could have played as a second Disney+ miniseries, but red-hued finale deserves its big-screen fate. Mackie more than earns his wings in the battle royale.
The best MCU films gave us indelible characters and robust action, but the writing often provided the secret sauce. A quip here, a memorable line, there, and the super antics took on a brighter glow.
Some even hinted at broader ambitions that only a superhero film could explore.
You won’t find much of that in “Captain America: Brave New World,” a workman-like MCU entry that entertains but never dazzles.
HiT or Miss: “Captain America: Brave New World” reminds us of the MCU’s strengths and weaknesses in a post-“Avengers: Endgame” world.
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