Rating: 8/10
“Thunderbolts*” leaves viewers feeling refreshed as it brings back memories of the Marvel Cinematic Universe when there was genuine excitement for what’s to come in future entries.
The film is the 36th movie in the MCU and follows the franchise’s lesser-known anti-heroes as they confront their boss after she attempts to have them killed.
Their boss wants to eliminate them in order to cut loose ends following an investigation into her involvement with “Project Sentry,” an attempt to create a superhuman that will act as Earth’s new savior following the disbanding of the Avengers.
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With this ensemble comes a cast of actors that shine in all of their respective scenes. This includes David Harbour, Wyatt Russell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Red Guardian, John Walker and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, respectively.
However, two standouts from the cast are Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman with their performances as Yelena Belova and Bob, respectively. Though the film emphasizes the team dynamic, their characters lead the story and drive the movie’s central themes.
Pugh and Pullman bring their A game and emotional depth to the MCU, differing from the action-packed thrill that the series is known to prioritize.
Unlike many of the MCU’s entries, something that separates “Thunderbolts*” from the rest of the franchise is how it takes its time to flesh out its characters. The story focuses on their progression as people while confronting their past to overcome their internal struggles.
The result is an emotional ride that still contains many of the MCU’s hallmark traits, which can lead to some tonal inconsistencies.
For example, the film contains several moments where the emotional tension gets struck down by a joke or the beginning of the next big action sequence, thus lessening the heft these scenes could have had.
The action in the movie is very enthralling as characters go blow for blow in some truly entertaining sequences that are sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The camera moves fluidly with the action, and elements like lighting help enhance the fight scenes, adding style with substance.
IMAX is nothing new for the MCU, and “Thunderbolts*” is another addition that benefits from the usage of the filmmaking technology. The film was not completely shot on IMAX, but it alternates between an aspect ratio of 2.39:1 and 1.90:1, which allows viewers to explore the world around the character.
Something interesting about the film and its marketing is the reveal of what the asterisk in the title means. To avoid spoilers, the true meaning of the asterisk won’t be revealed in this review, but Marvel Studios has revealed what it is mere days after the movie’s release.
This raises the question of why Marvel Studios decided to unveil the film’s secret so soon after it came out. Generally speaking, the production company is known to keep information about their movies under wraps to keep things fresh and surprising for audiences and fans alike.
By showing off the big reveal in the film, it diminishes the moment on the silver screen for viewers going in knowing what is going to happen. There’s no official word as to why it was done so early — could it be that Marvel had a lack of confidence in their newest project or was it an attempt to rile up hype for anyone on the fence about watching the movie?
“Thunderbolts*” is a breath of fresh air following the disappointment of “Captain America: Brave New World” and feels like a possible fresh start for the MCU with a level of storytelling that is reminiscent of the Marvel films fans reminisce about today.
With “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” set to release in less than three months, only time will tell if the MCU will ride off this current high or return to the void the negatively received entries have left behind.
For those wondering, “Thunderbolts*” has one mid-credit scene and one post-credit scene.
