[The following review contains SPOILERS; YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!]
Captain America: Brave New World is fine. It’s neither the best comic book adaptation ever produced nor the worst; it’s just… fine. Considering the absurdly astronomical budgets that Marvel has at its disposal, however, maybe “fine” is no longer good enough. Indeed, the vast discrepancy between the amount of money spent behind-the-scenes and the quality of what ended up on the screen probably accounts for the movie’s lukewarm critical reception.
Not to imply that the film is entirely unsalvageable; on the contrary, I actually found plenty to enjoy in it. Harrison Ford, for example, brings a welcome degree of nuance and complexity to the role of Thaddeus Ross, a character that often feels rather one-dimensional even in the source material; he’s clearly in it to collect the paycheck, but that doesn’t mean he’s phoning in his performance. Giancarlo Esposito and Tim Blake Nelson likewise excel as the central villains, lending the delightfully convoluted plot some semblance of depth, dignity, and gravitas. And Anthony Mackie’s appeal as a leading man is undeniable; his commanding presence and effortless charisma elevate a flimsy script that rarely gives him much to work with beyond unwieldy expository dialogue and flaccid one-liners.
Ultimately, though, this latest Captain America sequel seldom rises above the level of “serviceable,” to the extent that its most egregious blemishes—many story beats are blatantly recycled from previous entries in the franchise (The Winter Soldier and Civil War, especially), the editing frequently borders on complete incoherence, Shira Haas’ Sabra is totally superfluous in the grand scheme of the overarching narrative—seem all the more glaring. As I watched it, the utter lack of enthusiasm in the theater was palpable. That apparent apathy spoke volumes, indicating that mainstream audiences are finally experiencing “superhero fatigue” (a term that I despise, but which unfortunately applies in this case) in earnest. Hopefully, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and James Gunn’s Superman will reinvigorate the genre; fans deserve a higher caliber of popcorn entertainment.
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