While Captain America: Brave New World functions as a stand-alone movie, it also requires a little homework to be fully appreciated.

Brave New World revives characters and dropped plotlines from 2008’s Incredible Hulk and the last Captain America movie, continues the storyline started in the Marvel series Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and uses a McGuffin from the poorly-received Eternals and wraps it all into a story that sees Mackie come into his own as Sam Wilson, the new Cap. The film also teases what’s coming in the next in the Avenger series.

Mackie is no longer conflicted about taking up the mantle from Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) who retired from wearing the suit and wielding the shield some time earlier. Even when other characters try to call him out for not being Rogers, Sam Wilson takes it in stride, and he never backs down from his duties as protector of America.

Danny Ramirez returns as USAF 1st Lt. Joaquin Torres, now the official Cap sidekick, Falcon. And Carl Lumbly reprises his role as Isaiah Bradley, who was a Korean War-era super-soldier whom the government incarcerated and cruelly experimented upon for years.

When Sam is invited to the White House by now-President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford, who assumes the role last played by the late William Hurt), who was almost The Incredible Hulk‘s father-in-law, he asks his friend to attend with him. Understandably hesitant, Bradley must be convinced to accompany Sam and Joaquin.

President Ross asks for Sam’s help in negotiating an accord between the US and France, India and Japan over the ownership rights of Celestial Island, a hunk of Adamantium that appeared in the middle of the Indian Ocean during The Eternals, in case you didn’t see it. But once again, Bradley finds himself a pawn in a great conspiracy when there’s an assassination attempt on Ross, and it’s up to Sam to, without the blessing of the government or any help from them…at least at first.

It helps to have seen the other Marvel projects mentioned above before seeing this latest MCU effort, though it’s really not necessary. The mastermind of the conspiracy in Brave New World came from the 17-year old Hulk movie, so that’s probably the most important film to watch in order to understand the plot.

Even without that knowledge though, it’s still possible to see Mackie unabashedly embrace the role of Cap, with the requisite wit and humanity to faithfully protect all who need to be protected, even the villains, in some cases. Mackie shines here, and it’s going to be fun to see him in the next Avenger films.

The movie also features a great performance by Ford as the President, and the scenes of the Red Hulk when he finally appears, and in what may be a metaphor for the current political situation, leaves the White House and other Washington D.C. landmarks in ruins.

Giancarlo Esposito has a too-short role as Sidewinder, but Shira Haas has a much meatier role as Ruth Bat-Seraph, the President’s head of security, but whom comic book fans will recognize as the Israeli hero Sabra. Tim Blake Nelson reprises his role from Incredible Hulk, as does Liv Tyler. Xosha Roquemore is also excellent as Secret Service Agent Leila Taylor, who balances her sympathy towards Sam’s mission with her responsibilities towards the President.

In the one post-credits scene (stay until the bitter end to see it) Nelson’s character teases what horrors await the Avengers, once they reassemble next year.

Captain America: Brave New World is worth the watch, and Mackie’s performance is the main, but not only reason to do so.