After years of speculation and behind-the-scenes reshuffling, “Captain America: Brave New World” has arrived, marking a new chapter for the star-spangled hero. The film is a significant moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with Anthony Mackie fully stepping into the role of Captain America following the events of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” It also introduces Harrison Ford as Thunderbolt Ross, replacing the late William Hurt in a casting move that carries weighty expectations. But despite these major shifts, the film ultimately struggles to recapture the magic of its predecessors.

The film follows Sam Wilson (Mackie) as he takes on the mantle of Captain America, a role that comes with both internal and external challenges. Alongside him, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) assumes the wings as the new Falcon, forming a new heroic duo. Their mission? To navigate a tangled and often convoluted plot centered around Thunderbolt Ross, who is transformed into the monstrous Red Hulk. The twist? Ross isn’t acting entirely on his own; he’s being manipulated by Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson), a character reintroduced from “The Incredible Hulk” (2008). The result is a film that often feels weighed down by its own narrative complexities, struggling to balance its political intrigue with the action fans expect from a “Captain America” entry.

One of the film’s major weaknesses is how much of the plot is centered around characters that we haven’t seen since the pre-Kevin Feige “Hulk” movies—films that, quite frankly, weren’t very good to begin with. The return of Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader, while interesting in concept, feels disconnected from the MCU as we know it, given that “The Incredible Hulk” remains one of the franchise’s most forgotten entries. Additionally, much of the supporting cast and storylines stem from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” a Disney+ series that, while appreciated by some, remains largely unseen by casual moviegoers. The result is a movie that struggles to resonate with audiences who may not have the deep lore knowledge required to fully engage with its story.

Let’s face facts: “Brave New World” was always going to have an uphill battle. The MCU has reached a saturation point where every new film is placed under a microscope, and the absence of Chris Evans only amplifies the scrutiny. One of the toughest challenges for any new “Captain America” film is that it will inevitably be compared to the Chris Evans-led entries, particularly “The Winter Soldier,” which remains one of the franchise’s best. That film thrived on taut storytelling and visceral action; this one, despite Mackie’s best efforts, never quite finds its footing.

Part of the problem is the film’s underwhelming action sequences, which feel far less inspired than the tightly choreographed set pieces of earlier “Captain America” films. The fight scenes lack weight and creativity, often relying too heavily on CGI rather than practical effects or inventive choreography. Worse yet, the CGI itself is subpar, at times reaching distractingly poor levels. There were moments where I genuinely thought the IMAX screen I was watching was blurry, only to realize it was just the film’s shoddy effects work. In a franchise that once prided itself on immersive action, “Brave New World” delivers sequences that feel more like placeholders than highlights.

The film boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Giancarlo Esposito in a much-hyped new role. However, Esposito, a masterful actor in more cerebral roles, feels miscast in an action-heavy setting. His sequences lack the believability and intensity needed to make his character a real threat, through no fault of his own—it’s just not his wheelhouse.

That said, the biggest issue with “Brave New World” isn’t its performances—it’s the script. Mackie, who has more dramatic range than Evans, does his best with what he’s given, but the film never provides him with the kind of compelling arc that Steve Rogers had. The core problem? We want Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan. The camaraderie, the chemistry, the emotional depth—it’s just not here, and that absence is felt in every scene.

At its best, “Captain America: Brave New World” serves as a reminder that the MCU still has the potential to tell new stories with its legacy characters. At its worst, it underscores the difficulties of carrying on a franchise when the most beloved elements are no longer in place. Mackie is a capable lead, but he’s stuck in a film that never quite justifies its existence beyond the need to continue the brand.

In a cinematic landscape where audiences are increasingly questioning the longevity of superhero films, “Brave New World” does little to quell those doubts. It is a total misfire, a film that buckles under the weight of its expectations and never finds a compelling reason to exist beyond obligation.