Thunderbolts, the latest big-screen release from Marvel Studios (which is also its final Phase Five film), goes the Suicide Squad route, bringing together a group of degenerate anti-heroes in the name of the greater good. Surprisingly, it’s a more enjoyable movie than its DC counterpart.
Leading the charge is Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, the new Black Widow. Sebastian Stan yet again reprises his role of Bucky Barnes; David Harbour returns as Yelena’s parental figure, Alexei Shostakov, aka The Red Guardian; Wyatt Russell is John Walker (his brooding version of Captain America first appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and then in Captain America: Brave New World). Olga Kurylenko reprises her role as Taskmaster, and last but not least is Hannah John-Kamen as the formidable Ghost.
I should come clean about something. I’ve been more meh than yay with Marvel movies recently. You can chalk it up to a bunch of things, like the oversaturation of the superhero genre, Marvel’s formulaic narrative structure or the tired use of CGI effects. Needless to say, I walked into Thunderbolts with low expectations. Surprisingly, it successfully exceeded all of them.
Spoiler: Before I delve further into this review, know there are story spoilers below. I will strive to be mostly spoiler-free, but I can’t guarantee it. Tread lightly.
Read more: A Look at Marvel’s Phase Five and Phase Six After D23’s Big Reveals
If it weren’t for the engaging performances of Pugh and Harbour, I’m not sure Thunderbolts would work as well as it does. At its core, this is Yelena’s story, and nearly everything else is secondary. The father-daughter conflict and bond between her and Alexei supply the emotional foundation here. The history between these actors, who worked together in the lackluster Black Widow movie, helps inform the history between their characters. Not to mention, it helps that they’re both powerhouse talents on-screen.
This isn’t to say that the other cast members don’t hold their own — they do what’s necessary for the story to make sense and guide things into Phase Six. By the time they assemble for their first big battle, you could feel a sense of chemistry and cohesion between them. It’s clear Marvel is setting up some big things for Phase Six, and their offbeat, dysfunctional dynamic makes for a group of heroes worth rooting for.
From left, Hannah John-Kamen, Florence Pugh and David Harbour star as Ghost, Yelena Belova/Black Widow 2.0 and Alexei Shostakov/The Red Guardian, respectively, in Marvel’s Thunderbolts.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus brings along some big Veep energy as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who is basically the Amanda Waller to this squad of anti-heroes. Then there’s Lewis Pullman, who plays Bob, a mysterious man whose newly discovered godlike powers transform him into the Sentry, who you can describe as a less-charismatic Homelander. While this dude is definitely dangerous, it’s a shame more of his villainous side wasn’t showcased in the movie.
This is where Thunderbolts falters a bit. None of the story beats that fill out Bob’s backstory feel earned. A significant amount of time was spent developing the chemistry for this new crew of superheroes, and when it was finally time for them to battle the Sentry threat, the stakes seemed lacking. Mental health is a throughline that connects Bob to Yelena, which ultimately informs this boss fight. It’s poignant enough, but the in-world rules reveal a villain whose power is formidable but not lethal.
Then, there’s the new Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, which lists every Thunderbolts actor, so obviously they’ll live on. This proverbial safety net was a glaring crutch throughout the movie’s second and third acts.
Unlike Captain America: Brave New World, the fight scenes featured in Thunderbolts were thoroughly riveting. You could feel the work the team did to bring these brawls to life, which provides a visceral street-level quality to the action. Instead of relying on CGI to bring the movie to its climax, the use of unique camera work and practical set designs delivered a third act reminiscent of Inception with all its dream-hopping panache.
Florence Pugh is Yelena Belova, aka Black Widow 2.0, in Marvel’s Thunderbolts.
Sidenote: Pugh’s battle prowess feels more tactile and believable than what Scarlett Johansson previously pulled off. What I’m saying is, I’d never want to run into the Midsommar actress in a dark alley.
The abundance of humor featured throughout the movie came as a delightful surprise. Comedy isn’t new to Marvel, but it feels like the MCU has been a bit devoid of laughs recently. Thunderbolts is by no means a groundbreaking film, nor is it an event that will disrupt the established narrative within this expansive story universe.
But it isn’t meant to be.
Thunderbolts offers a breath of fresh air. It’s a palate cleanser that reminds audiences that Marvel movies can be fun — and, dare I say, even funny. It’s not envelope-pushing, but it works on multiple levels and successfully sets the stage for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is set to hit theaters this summer. What more could you ask for?
