It’s called “Captain America: Brave New World.”

The “New World” looks a lot like the “Old World” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which seems to be imploding rather than expanding.

Part of the film’s title is derived from the title for the novel, “Brave New World” (1932), by Aldous Huxley.

The movie is disappointing despite stellar performances by Anthony Mackie as Captain America, aka Sam Wilson, and a grizzly and effective turn by Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross.

To paraphrase William Shakespeare’s ”Julius Caesar”: The fault, dear reader, is not in our stars, but in our screenwriters, that we are movie-goers.

“Captain America: Brave New World” is a Marvel of a train wreck, thanks to the committee of screenwriters: Rob Edwards (screenwriter, “The Princess and the Frog,” 2009), Malcolm Spellman (writer, creator, TV’s “Bel Air,” 2020-22), Dalan Musson (writer, TV’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” 2021), Julius Onah (screenwriter, “Luce,” 2019) and Peter Glanz (screenwriter, “The Longest Week,” 2024) from a story by Edwards, Spellman and Musson based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America created in 1940 by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (“Captain America Comics” No. 1).

“Captain America: Brave New World” is directed by Julius Onah (director, “The Cloverfield Paradox,” 2018). Onah’s direction is lacking in character development, superhero camaraderie scenes and in building a story arc that leads to action set pieces and convincing plot-line developments and resolutions.

The screenplay doesn’t make a solid case for the psychological underpinnings of President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), nor his conflicted interactions with Captain America, and gives scant attention to the raison d’etre for his rage against his White House staff, nearly every person he comes in contact with, and especially when facing his tormentor, Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson, “The Incredible Hulk,” 2008).

No spoilers here, but given the advanced age of President Thaddeus Ross, when the trouser leg on the calf of his lower leg starts bulging, my immediate thought was “peripheral edema,” and that the White House medical doctor needed to be called.

This is not to criticize the performance of Harrison Ford. If you are a fan of Harrison Ford, he’s one of the reasons you might want to see “Captain America: Brave New World.” Harrison Ford still has a commanding screen presence and at age 83, even more gravitas.

The other fulcrum of power-acting in “Captain America: Brave New World” is Anthony Mackie, who succeeds the previous Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, portrayed by Chris Evans, starting with ”Captain America: The First Avenger,” 2011. Alas, it wasn’t an enemy alien who brought down Steve Rogers, but rather a movie studio contract, which had expired.

Chris Evans starred as Captain America in “Avengers: Endgame” (2019); “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), “Captain America: Civil War” (2016), “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) and “The Avengers” (2012).

Anthony Mackie has a terrific time as Captain America, aka Sam Wilson. Mackie (Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon) has a winning presence, with piercing yet compassionate eyes, a flint-like handsome face and solid stance. His rapport with Joaquin Torres, aka The Falcon apprentice (an excellent Danny Ramirez, reprising his role from TV’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”) is fun in some of the few fully-realized scenes.

An example of what could have been in “Captain America: Brave New World” is Captain America’s scene with Bucky Barnes (an uncredited Sebastian Stan, reprising his role), which has the casualness, compassion and humor lacking elsewhere in the film.

In supporting roles are Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, daughter of President Thaddeus Ross, in a cameo (behind a window); Rosa Salazar (Diamondback); Shira Haas (Ruth Bat-Seraph, a woefully-underwritten role), Carl Lumbly (Isaiah Bradley, also a poorly-written role) and Giancarlo Esposito (Sidewinder, who just seems mean without motivation).

If you’re a fan of the Captain America franchise, Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then by all means, see “Captain America: Brave New World.”

If you’re not a fan, then by all means, don’t.

“Captain America: Brave New World,” MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned, meaning some material may be inappropriate for children under 13) for intense sequences of violence and action, and some strong language; Genre: Action, Science-Fiction, Superhero; Run Time: 1 hour, 58 minutes; Distributed by Walt Disney Motion Pictures Studios.

Credit Readers Anonymous: Stay to the very end of “Captain America: Brave New World” for a scene of Sam Wilson, aka Captain America (Anthony Mackie) and Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) in prison. Sterns warns Wilson about “the others.” Movie locations include Atlanta, Ga., Washington, D.C.; Oaxaca, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan, and Jordan.

At The Movies: “Captain America: Brave New World” was seen in Dolby Cinema at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes