Story Breakdown – Is Captain America: Brave New World Worth the Watch‍

So, Sam Wilson (played by Anthony Mackie) is the new Captain America, but the movie doesn’t exactly make a big deal out of it. We jump right into Sam’s new role as the shield-wielder, but the story doesn’t really delve into the whole "how does Sam feel about all this?" thing. Instead, we get a confusing mess of shallow political drama and some weirdly placed conflict that feels more like it’s trying to fill time than build the emotional arc we were expecting.

Performances That Try, But Don't Quite Stick the Landing‍

Anthony Mackie does his best with what he’s given, but let’s be real—the script doesn’t give him much to work with. While he still brings his charm, there’s no real depth to Sam Wilson’s character arc, and he ends up feeling more like a placeholder than a fully realised hero.

Then there’s Harrison Ford as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross—look, we all love Ford, but he’s terribly miscast here. His performance is stiffer than a board, and he just doesn’t bring the weight that the role needs. It feels more like he’s there for a paycheck than anything else. We deserved better for Sam’s first solo film.

The Visuals and Action? Not Quite What We’re Used To‍

For a film that’s supposed to follow in the footsteps of The Winter Soldier and Civil War, the action here falls flat. I mean, we’re talking about Captain America—you’d expect some jaw-dropping, large-scale battles, right? Nope. The CGI is cheap, the set pieces are uninspired, and the action has zero punch. The few moments where the action does pick up feel more like background noise than anything you’d actually get hyped for. For a superhero movie that should be the big showstopper, this one just feels... meh. The whole thing lacks the flair and energy we’re used to from Marvel’s biggest names.

Rushed Yet Boring – The Worst of Both Worlds‍

At just under two hours, this Captain America flick is one of the shortest MCU movies—but don't let the runtime fool you. It drags. And when the action picks up, it’s so forgettable that you’ll likely wonder why you’re even watching it. The pacing is all over the place, with awkward pauses between the big moments, and by the time the finale rolls around, you’ll barely register it. This is supposed to be the climax, but it’s over before you even realise it’s started.

What Works & What Doesn’t

✅ Anthony Mackie still brings his charm to Sam Wilson
✅ The chemistry between characters is decent, but it’s not enough to carry the film
✅ Some small moments hint at bigger things for the MCU’s future

❌ Harrison Ford’s miscast as Thunderbolt Ross—just doesn’t work
❌ Cheap-looking visuals and underwhelming action sequences
❌ A script that lacks any real emotional weight or tension

Is Captain America: Brave New World Worth Watching?

If you’re a die-hard MCU fan, there’s probably some enjoyment to be had, but for everyone else, Captain America: Brave New World is one of the most skippable entries in the franchise. It doesn’t do anything new, and it doesn’t give us a reason to care about Sam Wilson as Captain America. The action’s uninspired, the pacing’s off, and the performances are all over the place. It’s not a bad movie, but it’s not one you’ll be rushing to rewatch, either.