Ensemble movies have been part of the MCU since The Avengers and it has exponentially grown with every film as it introduces new characters. Much like Guardians of the Galaxy and even DC’s Suicide Squad, Marvel’s latest offering Thunderbolts* introduces audiences to a team of misfit sociopaths and mercenaries with superpowers. To work together as a team, these guys must face their inner demons to fight a powerful adversary. What we get is perhaps one of the best MCU films in quite some time.
Thunderbolts* has a charismatic lead in Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) taking on some dangerous missions given by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Not satisfied with where she is headed in life, Yelena decides to call it quits with her new boss. Valentina has problems of her own as she faces possible impeachment from Congress due to her secret operations that the government question may be illegal. With time running out, Valentina gives Yelena one last assignment to get rid of any evidence against her. Our former Black Widow soon discovers that she isn’t the only one on a mission when she comes face-to-face with Valentia’s other operatives: US Agent John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr AKA Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and her nemesis Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko).
During their all-out brawl, they all encounter Bob (Lewis Pullman), a test subject in Valentina’s failed Sentry program. Once they all figure out that they’ve been sent to be incinerated inside the Vault, the team must overcome their differences to escape. We also find Bucky (Sebastian Stan) trying to expose Valentina for the corrupt individual that she is through his connections as a Congressman. However, it has become difficult for him to not play the hero when acting as a politician. His encounter with the Thunderbolts will put these guys on a collision course where they will be needed to save everyone from a powerful threat.
Each member of the Thunderbolts has some sort of trauma they’re dealing with. Most of them are dealing with past mistakes that have haunted them for a long time and are kept hidden within themselves. Their dark pasts start coming to the surface when they encounter Bob, who’s abilities start to surface. His mental instability makes it difficult for Bob to control his powers, especially to anyone around him. Yelena seems to be the only one who can connect to Bob as she tries to overcome her traumatic childhood and attempt to patch things up with her father-figure Alexei Shostakov AKA Red Guardian (David Harbour).
Director Jake Schreier can direct some amazing action sequences, but it’s the raw emotion with these characters that he excels at. What Thunderbolts* does so well is explore heavy topics like depression and trauma in a commercial film. It’s no easy task to balance human emotion and popcorn entertainment, but the movie mostly can pull off this feat. It is the amazing performances by the cast that this is somehow possible.
Florence Pugh carries the movie on her shoulders as Yelena is the center focus of the film and she does it well in a powerful performance. She is what helps bring the movie together in a raw and emotional nature that audiences will connect with. The rest of the ensemble also give it their all to deliver some standout performances. David Harbour brings in some humor with Alexei that balances well with the serious atmosphere of the film without overstaying his welcome. Wyatt Russell builds up from Walker’s arc in Falcon and the Winter Soldier even though it’s often one-sided and not enough material for him to work with. Even Hannah John-Kamen and Olga Kurylenko get lost in the shuffle of this ensemble piece. The true standout is Lewis Pullman’s turn as Bob as he plays a troubled superhuman being who is on the brink of causing harm to himself and others.
Thunderbolts* takes audiences to an earlier time when Marvel movies stuck to a simple formula by putting together a mix of characters from previous films and TV shows and building them up as a team. It is dark in some ways, but we know there is some hope for these characters. It’s all about healing and redemption for these former villains and mercenaries, which is something that fans can get behind. It has its unique tone and voice, but it does still feel like a Marvel film. It may not be able to reach the top among the franchise’s earlier movies, but it is heading in the right direction.
What Thunderbolts* brings to the table is a story of these underdogs overcoming their traumatic pasts to become a force for good. It’s a redemption story for them where they strive to become accepted in a world where they aren’t wanted by anyone. Even when the stakes are up against them, it’s these guys that do their best to save everyone. They may not want to be a team at first, but they end up having each other for support. Seeing them interact with each other in unpredictable and often hilarious ways is what keeps this movie together.
Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.
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