Internet rumour and speculation that this is the worst Marvel Cinematic Universe movie of all-time is definitely wide of the mark.
It’s definitely more palatable than The Marvels and Quantumania for starters, but is a far cry from the Chris Evans’ Captain America films such as Civil War and The Winter Soldier.
After a tumultuous period for the franchise, Brave New World plays it conservatively, but bridges the gap with important new Avengers entries on the horizon.
Anthony Mackie – who stars as former-Falcon-turned-Captain America, Sam Wilson – deserves much more credit for kick-off, as he’s obviously giving ‘his all’ to this serviceable superhero flick.
Following the election of ex-army general Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross – Harrison Ford taking over the role from the late William Hurt – as the President of the United States, the new Cap finds himself at the centre of an international incident that involves the discovery of precious new metal adamantium – famous for being present in the exo-skeleton of X-Men’s Wolverine. His friend, and veteran super soldier, Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), gets caught at the centre of it, as he’s brainwashed into an attempted assassination of the president.
Looking to find the source, Cap, and his colleague Joaquin ‘soon to be the new Falcon’ Torres (the likeable Danny Ramirez), get dragged into a world of espionage that involves the likes of the Serpent Society’s Sidewinder (The Mandalorian’s Giancarlo Esposito). This leads to the emergence of Samuel Sterns’ iconic The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson), last seen getting doused in gamma radiation towards the finale of 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Which, keeping plot-spoilers to a minimum, leads to the Red Hulk being unleashed.
The film does undoubtedly suffer from evoking a direct-to-streaming-movie extension feel to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier TV series, but despite being generically straightforward, does what it does fairly well – with a number of noteworthy action sequences. But the ending is admittedly a little tepid.
It does sadly clearly show how far the MCU has fallen from the heights leading into Endgame, but this may just turn out to be an important chapter in reinvigorating the series for what lies ahead, with Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom, the Fantastic Four, and eventually the X-Men, on the horizon.
It’s more safe, than brave, but could just usher in a new world for the MCU . . .
Rating: 3/5
Gavin Miller
FILM REVIEWED AT: ODEON LUXE PETERBOROUGH IN IMAX 3D
Odeon Luxe Peterborough & Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, Sebastian Stan & Liv Tyler
Running Time: 1 Hr 58 Mins
Director: Julius Onah
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Odeon Luxe & Showcase Cinema De Lux cinemas go to www.odeon.co.uk and www.showcasecinemas.co.uk
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