Look, before y’all start screaming at me … just … give me a second to explain! Okay? So when I got invited to attend an advanced screening of Captain America: Brave New World a few days ago, I knew it wasn’t really gonna be my kind of escape! (I wasn’t even planning on writing a review for Captain America: Brave New World, but here we are!) I’ve never been much of a Captain America fan — that is until they introduced the idea of a Black Captain America, and then I sat up a bit.
But in my defense, I wasn’t really a Marvel fan until things started getting kooky and weird, which all the real Marvel fans hate, but I seem to love, like “Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania”. So I never fell in love with the first few Avengers. And while I loved the first episode of “Falcon And The Winter Soldier”, the show ended a bit flat? So while I wasn’t super excited, after such a long wait — I had to see for myself how Marvel would handle Sam Wilson stepping into the role of Captain America.
I wasn’t expecting much from Brave New World, but somehow I’m still disappointed that I didn’t love this more? Don’t get me wrong, the action comes swinging, straight out the gate … because of course this poor Black man ain’t gon’ get no rest. And the pacing of the film is pretty decent. I was never truly bored! There are some laughs and a few great moments, but the story lacks any real substance. And it’s quite hard as someone who’s not a major fan of Marvel, who hasn’t read all the comics, to get excited about this film, and its Red Hulk.
However, YOU may get a kick out of watching this in theaters with your friends, so …
Here’s A Quick Captain America: Brave New World Movie Review
Captain America: Brave New World – Is This The Hero We Deserve?
Title: Captain America: Brave New World
Genre: Action, Superhero
Synopsis: Sam Wilson steps into the role of Captain America, but the world isn’t exactly making it easy. With political tensions rising, old enemies resurfacing, and an old friend in need of help, Sam must prove that his Captain America is worthy of the shield—without the super serum. To himself, and apparently to us.
Why “Captain America: Brave New World” is the Perfect Escape
- Escapism Appeal: If you love Marvel movies, action-packed fights, and superhero politics, this should be your jam. Especially if you’re excited about Red Hulk. But if you were expecting emotions baby, don’t.
- Vibes: A mix of political thriller, action sequences, and fan service—but with less emotion than expected. The film hits familiar beats but never quite lands with the impact it should. It’s like it wants to say something important, and I can faintly hear the message calling to me, but it fumbles the delivery.
“Captain America: Brave New World” Escapism Rating
🎈🎈🎈 (3/5 Balloons for Superhero Escapism)
- Rating Explanation: It’s got action, a few cool moments, and some fan service for comic lovers. But it lacks the emotional depth that could’ve made this a truly memorable escape.
“Captain America: Brave New World” Movie Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 Stars for Overall Entertainment)
- Rating Explanation: It’s an okay film, but definitely not one of my faves — which sucks big time! It relies heavily on great sound and visuals rather than a strong story and the emotional moments don’t hit as hard as they should. I didn’t care about anyone! And that’s because this movie didn’t make me FEEL anything. It’s watchable, but not Marvel’s best.
What “Captain America: Brave New World” Helps You Forget
Absolutely nothing. In its two-hour run time, which feels incredibly short compared to the last few films we’ve seen, you’ll get wrapped up in superhero drama, political nonsense, and the struggle of a Black Captain America to prove himself. Which is nothing new! And considering the state of our world at the moment, this won’t make you forget our own political climate, it’ll actually remind you more of it.
Story in One Sentence
Sam Wilson takes on the weight of being Captain America while fighting enemies, politics, and Marvel’s struggle to make us love his new role.
Recommendation
Honestly, whenever I don’t LIKE a Marvel film, it’s almost always because it was made for the Marvel diehards and comic book fans! So this one may just be for them, unfortunately.
Usually, I can enjoy a film without being fully caught up on the backstory, and who is who, but this one didn’t intrigue me like a few of the last films have. So if you’re like me, and you just wanted to see (and love) Sam Wilson’s Captain America … good luck baby. I hope you’re not as disappointed as I am.
If You Liked Captain America: Brave New World You May Also Like …
- Paradise (for a better political story with a strong Black lead)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (for more of Sam’s journey)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (for a more powerful Black superhero story)
- Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (for a better Black superhero film that does diverse stories justice)
Vibe Enhancers
- Watch with: Friends who love superhero flicks and don’t mind predictable plots.
- Pairs well with: A large popcorn to distract you from its mediocrity, and a strong drink, because some of these plot points will have you shaking your head.
Key Moments from My “Captain America: Brave New World” Viewing Experience
- Isaiah Bradley!!!!! – Easily the most emotional part of the film.
- “Cause if I’m not on point, I feel like I’m letting down everyone else waiting for a seat at that table.” – one of the film’s few powerful moments.
- The Kendrick Lamar song at the end! – The best part of the movie, honestly.
- Even the end credit scene was … disappointing! Shesh.
Final Thoughts
Captain America: Brave New World has good moments but lacks the emotional weight needed to make it a great film. The action is there, but the storytelling is weak, making it feel like Marvel is just setting up future movies rather than giving us a solid standalone experience. While I loved watching Xosha Roquemore on screen; and Carl Lumbly and Giancarlo Esposito played their characters extremely well — their performances couldn’t fix this story. Hell, the cameo didn’t even improve things by much.
Maybe I missed something, due to not being a comic book fan, but this doesn’t feel like the Captain America story we deserve. Almost as if we’re not allowed to have great Black superhero characters! Which sucks ass!
To keep this review spoiler-free, I’ll post my REAL thoughts, about this movie in a few days once the film drops, so you know exactly what I hated because I feel like it needs to be said … out loud.
Should you rush to theaters? If you’re a Marvel fan, just trying to support the culture, so we get more movies with us in them made — sure. But if you’re already on the fence and not excited? It’s worth waiting to watch at home on Disney Plus. Captain America: Brave New World premieres in theaters on Valentine’s Day, Fri, Feb 14, 2025.
2 comments
I came straight here when I saw on your story that you were at an advanced screening. I appreciate your honesty and perspective, I think I’ll still take the boys (ages 15, 13) to see it because they might appreciate seeing a Black Captain America even if the story is lacking. They have been Marvel fans since they were younger, so I’m interested to hear their take on it!
You’re welcome! I’m kind of excited to see what everyone else thinks. Especially folks who have been Marvel fans forever! Let me know if they like it! (They probably will.)