The fourth installment in the Captain America franchise remains an entertaining, super-powered political thriller, even if it’s not as clever as it strives to be. A major part of the appeal this time around is our new star-spangled Cap, Anthony Mackie. The former Falcon steps into the role effortlessly, carrying the film with equal parts confidence and charisma. His portrayal commands attention at every turn, proving he’s more than capable of shouldering the mantle -Vibranium wings and all. Harrison Ford also delivers as our new General—scratch that, President—Ross. The grizzled veteran is a perfect fit for the role, exuding a barely contained fury that makes you believe he’s always teetering on the edge of an outburst. Question though – if the reveal that Ross is the Red Hulk was meant to be some big climactic twist at the very end of the movie, then why make it the focal point of every trailer? Ok, rant over. But, while we’re on gripes, the plot itself is far from ground-breaking. It’s a loosely strung-together series of events that ultimately leads nowhere significant. Sure, the introduction of “adamantium” to the MCU is noteworthy, but the movie feels more like a standalone adventure than the kind of game-changing spectacle Marvel has conditioned us to expect. That said, the action sequences are exciting. They are even propelled by a tense, pulse-pounding score that injects a real sense of urgency. If only the visual effects were as consistent. While some CGI moments shine, others are embarrassingly shoddy. In the end, Captain America: Brave New World is a mixed bag. It flirts with intriguing themes—loyalty to one’s country and the complexities of mentorship—but never fully commits to exploring them in a meaningful way. At least Tim Blake Nelson seems to be having a blast as the Leader. Too bad his character’s immense intellect couldn’t have been applied to the script itself…