Captain America: Brave New World is in theaters this week, and it has critics divided. Directed by Julius Onah and starring Anthony Mackie taking over as the new Captain America, the movie also stars Harrison Ford, Giancarlo Esposito, Danny Ramirez, Tim Blake Nelson, Shira Haas, Liv Tyler, Rosa Salzar, Carl Lumbly, and Takehiro Hira. As always, the official Marvel synopsis doesn’t give much away:

Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who’s officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

Reviews are in, and while they are mixed, the general consensus is that it’s about middle of the pack for Marvel movies, but elevated by Mackie’s performance and great action sequences.

Ron Seoul-oh – POC Critics:

Anthony Mackie and co-star Danny Ramirez are as delightful together as they are dynamic, and their partnership forms the heart of this story…The dynamic between Wilson and Torres is an interesting departure from the Captain America and Falcon of the past. While Rogers was the straight-laced, serious hero to Wilson’s sarcastic and wise-cracking sidekick, both Sam and Joaquin are a lot more comedic. At times, it feels like they might step on each other‘s toes, but the two manage to find that tough balance and ultimately bring the best out of each other. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable partnership that is unlike any we have seen thus far in the MCU.

Travis Hopson – Punch Drunk Critics:

But the drag isn’t long, and there is some really cool action. The vibe is closer to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, rooted in the paranoid political thrillers of the 1970s rather than the massive superhero spectacles of the Avengers movies. Giancarlo Esposito brings gravitas to the role of mercenary Sidewinder, who engages Wilson in a couple of nice shootouts. An aerial dogfight that finds Wilson and Torres engaging fighter jets from multiple nations features the undeniably slick moment of the hero surfing atop missiles like an extra from Blue Crush. The hand-to-hand isn’t as jaw-dropping impactful as the Russos but director Julius Onah is no slouch, either. He gives Wilson his own unique style of combat that combines his jet-powered mobility with hard hitting power.

Rodrigo Perez – The Playlist:

Like its hero, “Captain America: Brave New World” is flawed, human and imperfect, but where it lacks in narrative complexity or enormous world-saving-scale takes, it makes up for in spirit, immense character integrity, humility and heart. It’s a B movie in its execution, but its idealism and essence is at least a B+.

Jamie Broadnax – Black Girl Nerds:

Captain America: Brave New World takes bold swings in redefining what it means to carry the shield and it definitely sticks the landing.This Cap isn’t just about super-soldier serum — it’s about resilience, responsibility, and the courage to stand for something greater. Whether this new world is truly brave or just another stepping stone for the franchise remains to be seen, but at the very least, it’s an intriguing new start.

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