⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Rated PG-13 | 118 minutes

Marvel’s first film of 2025 is a chance for the superhero franchise juggernaut to reset a few things and it does just that by bringing the story back to the giant Celestial that’s been hanging out in the Indian Ocean since Marvel’s Eternals. Sure, it was mentioned briefly in the Disney+ series She-Hulk, but was otherwise forgotten.

The film centers around this being as it has become the source for a new element: Adamantium, an industructible steel alloy not quite as strong as Wakanda’s Vibranium, according to Marvel lore. As with any global discovery, every country wants in on it. Especially the United States and Japan. So much so, that we almost come to blows with an ally over it. Echos of WWII aside, the political content does indeed draw some parallels with current events – probably intentional. It helps bring a level of realism to an otherwise imaginative story.

A serum-less Captain America, established at the end of Avengers: Endgame, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) has been paying his dues and fighting the assumptions of a public used to seeing Steve Rogers in the starry suit. The Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier helped tell that story…and you may want to make sure you’re caught up before seeing Brave New World.

Trading in the silver-and-blue masked outfit for a more traditional Captain America look in Brave New World, it’s clear that Sam is here to prove he has what it takes.

Harrison Ford joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time, assuming the role of Thaddeus Ross, formerly played by the late mustachioed William Hurt. Ford is a natural in the role of a former Lieutenant General of the United States Army turned Secretary of State. In the opening scene of the film, we see that he has just been elected President.

Ross is a complex character in the MCU, having been the reason Bruce Banner turned into the Incredible Hulk. Ross was also behind the Sokovia Accords, which brought heavy rules down on the Avengers and other “enhanced” individuals. Here, we see that Ross has become a ‘do anything to get ahead’ politician with a love/hate relationship with Captain America.

Extending a bit of a olive branch, Cap and Falcon (Danny Ramirez) are invited to a special event at The White House. Cap insists that his Baltimore-based mentor Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) attends with them. Lumbly is reprising his scene-stealing role from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series.

While Ross is giving a presentation to dignitaries from around the world about the discovery of Adamantium, there’s an incident causing Cap and Falcon to spring into action to protect Ross and the other digntiaries. It’s during this incident that we meet Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas) as Ross’ Secretary of Defense.

Through parallel investigations, Cap and Ruth come to discover that someone is controlling the chaos from the shadows. They team up to uncover what’s really going on in the background.

It’s a relatively small cast for a Marvel film, but that’s what really helps this movie shine. For a while now, films in the series have tried to do too much within one story with a need to introduce new characters as the MCU establishes its next phase of storytelling.

Brave New World is a refreshing change of pace with only a couple new characters… albeit important ones… that will help build a brand new story to come. The breadcrumbs are being laid much in the way the original Iron Man and Captain America films did in the lead-up to the original Avengers films.

Of course, lets talk about the eleph—no, the Hulk in the room. If you’ve seen any of the marketing for this film, you know we’ll get to see a very red, very angry Hulk. One could say this film serves more as a sequel to The Incredible Hulk.

It’s no secret that Ford’s Ross becomes Red Hulk and goes on a rampage through Washington, DC… but how we get there is nothing short of diabolical. My minor quibble: apparently your hair gets way less gray when you transform into a Hulk. Who knew?

From a visual standpoint, this film stands out with uniquely angled shots and many full-frame IMAX action and effects sequences. If you choose to see Brave New World in IMAX (and you should), you may even be treated to a special IMAX countdown at the start of the movie.

While it has a couple scenes that drag at times, Captain America: Brave New World is an overall exciting addition to the MCU. It’s an important stop on the way to a larger story. It cements Sam Wilson as Cap and gives him a renewed sense purpose as he continues to prove himself worthy of carrying the Vibranium sheild.

Oh, and be sure to stay through the credits.