Film Review: Latest movie in the Captain America franchise fails to emulate the hype
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SIX YEARS after he was handed the shield by Chris Evans, Anthony Mackie finally makes his big-screen debut as the patriotic protector in . After years of anticipation, fans will be wondering whether Mackie truly is a worthy successor to Evans’s iconic Steve Rogers.
I am happy to report that Anthony Mackie makes for an excellent Captain America, breathing new life into the role and making it his own, without ever trying to replace or replicate his predecessor.
I am less happy to report that the film itself fails to reach the same heights as previous entries in the franchise and is guilty of the same sins that have plagued many recent Marvel films.
The film opens with Sam Wilson, having fully embraced his role as the new Captain America, soaring into action on a secret mission. This impressive opening sequence goes to great lengths to showcase the abilities of Sam’s high-tech flight suit and his skill with the famous shield.
The intricately choreographed action scenes do make for an exciting watch and help to set Sam Wilson’s fighting style apart from that of Steve Rogers. From there, a complicated plot unfolds revolving around the newly-elected President Ross, played with grit and gravitas by the legendary Harrison Ford.
Replacing the late, great William Hurt in the role of Thaddeus Ross, Ford brings the perfect blend of intensity and nuance to his performance, which honestly feels like it belongs in a better film. Thankfully, Anthony Mackie easily rises to the task of acting opposite Ford, imbuing his character with a real sense of heart and humanity.
Where this film really struggles is in its third act. An initially intriguing and potentially intelligent plot about espionage and corruption culminates in an overproduced CGI-heavy fight scene that feels totally inconsistent with the rest of the film and frankly borders on the ridiculous – even for a superhero movie.
What could have been a suspenseful and thrilling climax, as seen in previous instalments, instead becomes a boring, forgettable mess. This was not helped by questionable visual effects that at times looked more like something from a video game rather than a big-budget film.
The best word I could use to describe ***Captain America: Brave New World*** is frustrating. While all of the performances are solid and the two-hour run time is punctuated by enough entertaining action scenes, a poorly-written script and a disappointing third act weigh down what should have been a better film.
While it’s not the best Marvel film – not by a long shot – it’s certainly not the worst either. Fans of can at least rejoice in the fact that the shield is in safe hands, it’s just a shame the script wasn’t.
