From the moment I saw the first trailer, I could tell this movie was trying to capture the feel of The Winter Soldier blending political intrigue with a mystery-driven plot. In some ways, it succeeded, with elements of mind control and rogue government forces adding depth. But in other ways, it struggled, particularly with its villains. Sidewinder, Samuel Sterns, and Red Hulk all felt underdeveloped or misused, making the film feel disjointed and presented neither a brave nor a new world for the character of Captain America.
The Villains: A Missed Opportunity
Sidewinder was a disappointment. Instead of being faithful to his comic book origins or serving a meaningful purpose, he felt like a random mercenary with a recognizable name slapped on. The movie mentions that the Serpent Society has already been dealt with, but it never elaborates, making it feel like wasted potential.
Samuel Sterns’ role raised more questions than it answered. The film repeatedly referenced The Incredible Hulk, but without giving enough context or explanation. We were expected to accept how he reached this point, yet the details felt rushed. His decision to turn himself in just to trigger Ross’ transformation into Red Hulk seemed illogical, especially since he’s supposed to be a genius who can see all possibilities. Could he really not find another way to accomplish the same goal without surrendering?
President Ross was no surprise, as Secret Invasion had already hinted that President Ritson wouldn’t return. However, his role amounted to little more than getting angry over an unsigned treaty. One that, after nearly 4 years of silence, finally acknowledged the Celestial. (Unless you count that She-Hulk Easter egg.) He also tried to use the Avengers as leverage against Sam, only to immediately backtrack like a child unwilling to share their favorite toy when things got difficult.
Red Hulk: Rushed and Underwhelming
Ross’ transformation into Red Hulk lacked buildup. We learn he has been taking medication for heart problems since possibly before Civil War, but this information is dropped out of nowhere in this movie. His Red Hulk reveal wasn’t surprising, I mean it was all over the marketing but it still felt sudden and underdeveloped. He then spent around 15 minutes fighting Sam and that was that.
Mutant Teases: Meaningful or Empty Hints?
The MCU continues its tradition of teasing mutants. This time, we learn that adamantium comes from the Celestial, and nations are beginning to harness it. But you know who isn’t? Canada meaning no Wolverine. However, let’s not forget the She-Hulk Easter egg mentioning a man with metal claws. Was that just a coincidence, or does it hint that someone secretly had access to adamantium long before anyone else?
Seraph’s Live-Action Debut (Sort of)
Seraph appears in this movie, marking the first Israeli superhero in the MCU except not really. She isn’t a mutant, doesn’t act as an Israeli Secret Service member, and doesn’t even go by the name Seraph. Instead, she’s Ruth Bat-Seraph, a former Black Widow. A term that can be thrown around like its nothing now because of the Black Widow movie, a movie that Ross also appeared in. Anyways, while the actress is Israeli, that’s where the similarities end. This raises the question: why include a character just to change them beyond recognition?
Bucky, Sam’s Insecurities, and Thunderbolts Setup
One of the most confusing scenes was Bucky in the hospital. Did I miss him running for Congress? Because nothing in Falcon and the Winter Soldier set that up. And how will this mesh with Thunderbolts*? It’s hard to picture a congressman joining a black-ops team. or leading one as the trailers suggest.
Speaking of forced character moments, the film rehashes Sam’s self-doubt something that Falcon and the Winter Soldier already resolved. Despite being widely recognized as Captain America, he’s still questioning if he can live up to Steve Rogers. This is made worse when Ross outright tells him, “You’re not Steve Rogers.” It feels unnecessary, as if the movie assumes no one watched the Disney+ series.
Betty and The Not-So-Captain-America Movie
Betty Ross appears at the end, suddenly willing to reconnect with her father. After all these years, why now? A part of me wonders if she just came to gloat, seeing him suffer the same fate he forced on Bruce. But beyond this brief moment, the movie doesn’t offer any updates on what she’s been up to.
Before anyone says, “This isn’t a Hulk movie, so it didn’t need to explore those details,” let’s be real. This was written as a Hulk movie. It had more to do with Red Hulk and Samuel Sterns than anything Captain America-related. In fact, it was more of a Hulk movie than The Flash movie was a sequel to Michael Keaton’s Batman. These villains don’t belong in a Captain America film, but the MCU was desperate to tie up loose ends.
A New Falcon Though Right?
Joaquín Torres, the new Falcon, gets a small role. We met him in the Disney+ series, so he’s not a stranger, but his presence feels underwhelming. He’s only the Falcon if needed, a role that attempts to give him an excuse for his an inadequacies and gets himself almost blown up when he fails to stop a missile. This however conveniently allows Sam to enter the final act alone because Joaquín is in the hospital in critical condition.
The Post-Credit Scene: Another Multiverse Tease
The post-credit scene shows Sam visiting the Leader at the Raft, who is apparently being held separately from Ross. He ominously states that the heroes “aren’t ready for what’s coming.” But how does he know about the Multiverse? Being super-intelligent doesn’t grant cosmic awareness. This felt like yet another forced reminder that Marvel is still building toward its Multiverse saga, whether we care or not.
Final Thoughts
In the end, Captain America 4 struggles with its identity. It wants to be a political thriller like The Winter Soldier, but it gets distracted by Hulk-related plotlines. It tries to set up future MCU events, but it loses focus on its main character. While it has some strong moments, it ultimately feels less like a Captain America film and more like an excuse to clean up lingering MCU threads.
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