Captain America: Brave New World, hasn’t exactly had the positive reception Marvel Studios might’ve hoped for. Despite crossing the $400 million mark globally, something that felt uncertain at one point as it landed a lukewarm 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, reactions from fans and critics have ranged from “meh” to outright dismissive.
But, Brave New World co-writer Rob Edwards is not buying the negative buzz. During a recent appearance at WonderCon, he opened up to The Direct about the film’s reception, and he’s not convinced the critics got it right.
When asked if he was surprised by the critical response, he said: “I kinda did, kinda didn’t. I think similar things have happened… with a lot of different projects. It was weird to me, because some of my friends who are critics, I said, ‘I think you guys missed it. I think you guys got it wrong.’”
Edwards isn’t just talking about personal bias. He’s pointing to audience reactions that seem to tell a different story.
“When the audience’s marks came in, everybody I saw said like, ‘Not only did I love it, but I brought my family to the next week.’ I’ve seen it more than once. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable film, and I don’t know what everybody’s talking about. I mean, that’s really what you want as opposed to the other thing.”
It’s worth noting that Brave New World does have its fans, and those who appreciated the film’s tone, themes, and new direction. But it’s also become a flashpoint in the ongoing “What’s up with Marvel?” conversation that’s been swirling post-Endgame.
Director Julius Onah shared similar sentiments in an earlier interview addressing the backlash without getting defensive.
“All I’ll say is that we were working very hard and are very passionate about the movie we made. We told the story in a way that I feel very excited about and very satisfied with.
“Every single one of these movies [receives criticism]—and maybe because it was so out-there in terms of some of the conversation, people perceiving certain things, certainly—but I don’t think that is the truth of the reality of it.… The really important thing for me is the experience the audience gets to have: enjoying the story.”
So… did critics get it wrong? I actually did watch the movie a second time, and I ended up disliking it even more. I’m sorry, but that film is a complete mess. In my opinion, the filmmakers got it wrong.
Regardless, with streaming around the corner, Brave New World might get a second wind, or at least a second opinion. Sometimes time and distance does shift perspective, especially when expectations aren’t as loud as they were on opening night.
What about you? Has your view of the film changed since it hit theaters? Planning to give it another shot when it hits Disney+?
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