Marvel in a minor key

The biggest pleasures of Captain America: Brave New World lie in its witty and emotional touches, some of which serve as clever callbacks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

- SREEJITH MULLAPPILLY

The scale here is considerably low in comparison to the grand spectacle that MCU films often dish out. However, the film frequently mines humor from its material to offer consistently engaging, albeit mild, entertainment. The film also stays self-aware long enough to ensure that it does not fall prey to franchise fatigue.

The central plot of Captain America: Brave New World does not move the needle and is serviceable at best. It involves a former scientist-turned-prisoner at a military facility coming back to settle an old score. Meanwhile, President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) urges Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie) to bring back the Avengers as he tries to divide a powerful metal called Adamantium and forge a global treaty. However, Japan refuses to cooperate with Ross, with its prime minister (Takehiro Hira) being adamant that his American counterpart played a part in having the metal stolen from his country. This leads to a situation of potential warfare between the nations, necessitating Wilson's involvement to save Uncle Sam.