It's no secret that Marvel has had a tough time following Avengers: Endgame. This movie had a very troubled production with numerous rewrites and reshoots. So it's amazing that the film is as good as it is. It's trying too hard to be another The Winter Soldier. Certainly not among the highs of the MCU, but an entertaining middling entry and one of the best post-Endgame entries not involving Spider-Man or Deadpool.
Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, and Tim Blake Nelson all do an amazing job. Mackie has always been excellent as Falcon. The character's turn as Captain America is about as successful as the version in the comics, entertaining even if it could never match Steve Rogers. Nelson is great as Leader, finally giving us that villainous turn promised so long ago. He's plenty fun with lots of pathos. Ford is the standout taking over for the late William Hurt. This is one of his best performances in recent years as he's too often gone through the motions like Bruce Willis did. Ford's Ross has all the emotional beats and it plays well.
One of the big problems with the movie is that it's really The Incredible Hulk 2, not the fourth Captain America film and first Falcon film. That was the most underrated MCU film and it's been sadly too long to see it properly followed up on. It is a little weird that a Captain America movie would be the one to follow it up while Bruce Banner is completely absent. Still, it mostly works. It ultimately works, providing twists and turns. It's a shame that Red Hulk was used so extensively in the promotion as his third act reveal is quite interesting.
If anything, Sam's first movie as Cap should have been what eventually became the show Falcon and the Winter Soldier. A battle for the mantle of Captain America would have been a more appropriate movie than this. One thing the show had the movie doesn't is personal stakes for Sam. They try to connect to Isaiah Bradley, the Korean War Cap, but it's never quite Sam's journey. Ross and Leader have personal stakes, but too often is seems like Sam is just there.
The new characters are mixed. Giancarlo Esposito gives his usual best, but he's doing the same thing he's done in Breaking Bad, Mandalorian, and so many others. There's a new Falcon and new Black Widow that are both forgettable. Each have moments that don't go anywhere, an indication of its constant rewrites and reshoots.
The fights are well done. It's a little hard to believe that Sam could be as skilled as Steve with the shield. Still, the fights are well choreographed. The graphics look good, particularly since so many recent MCU movies have been so clearly unfinished. Best of all, the movie really brings back the no-holds-barred Hulk damage that has been missing since Edward Norton left. The final act with Cap fighting Red Hulk delivers on some classic Hulk smashing.
There was a lot of talk before the release about how President Ross turns into raging red monster destroying Washington DC and how this may be an allegory to a certain right-wing politician. While it could be viewed that way, it's a story that works perfectly fine within the context of the MCU. It's been set up in Civil War and fits within the some comic stories. And if it was, it's not as blatant as some modern movies.
Given all the behind-the-scene troubles, this movie is much better than it had any right to be. Not perfect, but definitely feels like Marvel is making steps in the right direction.
Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, and Tim Blake Nelson all do an amazing job. Mackie has always been excellent as Falcon. The character's turn as Captain America is about as successful as the version in the comics, entertaining even if it could never match Steve Rogers. Nelson is great as Leader, finally giving us that villainous turn promised so long ago. He's plenty fun with lots of pathos. Ford is the standout taking over for the late William Hurt. This is one of his best performances in recent years as he's too often gone through the motions like Bruce Willis did. Ford's Ross has all the emotional beats and it plays well.
One of the big problems with the movie is that it's really The Incredible Hulk 2, not the fourth Captain America film and first Falcon film. That was the most underrated MCU film and it's been sadly too long to see it properly followed up on. It is a little weird that a Captain America movie would be the one to follow it up while Bruce Banner is completely absent. Still, it mostly works. It ultimately works, providing twists and turns. It's a shame that Red Hulk was used so extensively in the promotion as his third act reveal is quite interesting.
If anything, Sam's first movie as Cap should have been what eventually became the show Falcon and the Winter Soldier. A battle for the mantle of Captain America would have been a more appropriate movie than this. One thing the show had the movie doesn't is personal stakes for Sam. They try to connect to Isaiah Bradley, the Korean War Cap, but it's never quite Sam's journey. Ross and Leader have personal stakes, but too often is seems like Sam is just there.
The new characters are mixed. Giancarlo Esposito gives his usual best, but he's doing the same thing he's done in Breaking Bad, Mandalorian, and so many others. There's a new Falcon and new Black Widow that are both forgettable. Each have moments that don't go anywhere, an indication of its constant rewrites and reshoots.
The fights are well done. It's a little hard to believe that Sam could be as skilled as Steve with the shield. Still, the fights are well choreographed. The graphics look good, particularly since so many recent MCU movies have been so clearly unfinished. Best of all, the movie really brings back the no-holds-barred Hulk damage that has been missing since Edward Norton left. The final act with Cap fighting Red Hulk delivers on some classic Hulk smashing.
There was a lot of talk before the release about how President Ross turns into raging red monster destroying Washington DC and how this may be an allegory to a certain right-wing politician. While it could be viewed that way, it's a story that works perfectly fine within the context of the MCU. It's been set up in Civil War and fits within the some comic stories. And if it was, it's not as blatant as some modern movies.
Given all the behind-the-scene troubles, this movie is much better than it had any right to be. Not perfect, but definitely feels like Marvel is making steps in the right direction.