Anthony Mackie stars as Captain America in the continuing adventures of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
There’s a bit late in “Captain America: Brave New World” where a character gives an impassioned speech, and then another character stops him cold and asks if that speech came from a speechwriter. He jokes that yes, it was written, and they both share a laugh about whether or not it was delivered in an effective manner.
It’s a classic Marvel exchange, a reminder of the tone and self-reflexive style of banter that typifies this world-conquering franchise. And it stands out in this instance because “Brave New World” otherwise feels removed from that tried-and-true Marvel formula.
“Brave New World” isn’t a hard reset for the MCU, but it does represent a step in a different direction — if not an entirely “brave” or “new” one — for the monolithic franchise. It is the fourth “Captain America” movie and the first with Anthony Mackie as Cap, and it doesn’t lean on the familiar “Avengers” faces that have populated this world over the previous 34 (!) films.
It features some solid action, especially during an airstrike sequence where Mackie’s Cap is like a human plane in a “Top Gun”-style dogfight. But it’s also bogged down by subpar visual effects, continuing a downward slide that has affected not only the MCU but the majority of effects-heavy films across Hollywood. And it features a villain who is too small — both in stature and characterization — to wreak havoc in a world where we’ve already seen bad guys wipe out half the world’s population with a snap of their fingers.
Sam Wilson (Mackie) is working with Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), an Air Force lieutenant who has inherited the role of Falcon, Captain America’s sidekick. Sam introduces Joaquin to his mentor Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), a super soldier who was imprisoned and experimented on for 30 years and is looking for a fresh start.
Sam is working with Thaddeus E. “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford), a hotheaded U.S. general who has just been elected president in “one of the most important elections of our lifetime,” because aren’t they all these days. Their relationship is somewhat contentious but Sam wants to give the Prez the benefit of the doubt, for the country and in the name of unity. But things go haywire when during a White House visit, Isaiah pulls a gun and tries to assassinate the president.
Turns out Isaiah was triggered by subliminal sound waves, in the form of the Fleetwoods’ “Mr. Blue,” a nod to the alias of Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), a mad scientist type last seen way back when Edward Norton was the Hulk. You’d think maybe he’d use literally any other song so as not to draw attention to himself, but it’s a small detail in a pile-up of plot lines which also includes a second villain, Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder, and Shira Haas as a member of the president’s security detail who also may have her own agenda.
Loyalties shift and legacies are questioned as “Brave New World” moves forward, a bit clunkily but steadily. World politics are brought into the fold but it’s silly to read too much into a storyline where the U.S. and Japan are fighting over control of a Goody Two-shoes new element known as Adamantium. What’s “Brave New World” saying about our world? Frankly our world is currently dealing with its own problems, thank you very much.
Mackie’s Cap feels the weight of his suit; he questions whether he lives up to the shield, and Ross knows he can get in his head by telling him flat out, “You’re not Steve Rogers.” For his part, Mackie is charismatic and has star power, though he still feels somewhat timid in the role, and he lacks the character moments to truly shine.
Director Julius Onah (2019’s “Luce”), working from a script credited to five writers, builds to a smashing finale where a certain guy whom you won’t like when he’s angry destroys half of Washington with his bare hands. We’ve seen this type of destruction from Marvel before. But this time around, the world seems just a little bit smaller.
agraham@detroitnews.com
‘Captain America: Brave New World’
GRADE: B-
Rated PG-13: for intense sequences of violence and action, and some strong language
Running time: 118 minutes
In theaters