A Marvel superhero film that was panned by critics is now available for streaming on Disney+, and fans insist it’s worth a watch.
Directed by Julius Onah, Captain America: Brave New World features Anthony Mackie stepping into the role of Captain America, previously portrayed by Chris Evans.
In a meeting with President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam Wilson (Mackie) finds himself at the heart of a political catastrophe, which reveals an even more ominous plot than he expected.
Like his predecessor, the new Captain is given the opportunity to battle formidable villains and showcase his combat skills. The action drama, through Sam’s mission, addresses political themes such as nationalism and the perils of corrupt governments.
These subjects are not new in the Captain America universe, with previous films exploring similar themes, reports Surrey Live. However, unlike its predecessors, Brave New World did not win over critics.
Upon its premiere in February, Rotten Tomatoes critics gave the adventure drama a disappointing 47 per cent score, a significant drop from Evans’ highly-rated films. The earlier Captain America releases – The First Avenger, The Winter Soldier and Civil War – received ratings of 80 and 90 percent, respectively.
Expanding on their judgement, the critics’ consensus suggested that while Mackie’s performance was commendable, the film’s storyline fell short.
“Anthony Mackie capably takes up Cap’s mantle and shield, but Brave New World is too routine and overstuffed with uninteresting Easter eggs to feel like a worthy standalone adventure for this new Avengers leader,” they penned.
Despite the lukewarm critical response, everyday cinemagoers deemed “it was a good film overall,” awarding it a favourable 78 per cent rating.
“Feel good, action packed family movie with a few laughs added,” lauded one fan.
Another admirer offered a measured critique: “A good way to introduce the new Captain America but not the best Marvel movie to come out in a hot minute,” and added: “Worth at least one watch.”
On X, formerly Twitter, followers weren’t singing praises for the fantasy flick. Yet, they admitted that it is bette rthan critics have suggested.
“Captain America: Brave New World is not a bad movie. Stop expecting everything to be the same type of story or same superhero type movie. I feel more connected to this Captain America than any other one. Give it a chance and really look into the message,” advocated one supporter.
Captain America: Brave New World is streaming now on Disney+