By: Chalice Williams
There have been so many comic book films as of late that it can prove a bit hard to come up with fresh ideas as opposed to sticking to the source material. That is not an issue for Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* as they deliver a completely different feel and dynamic with their latest project, with Jake Schreier in the director’s chair. The unexpected team up of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) leads us through a series of beautifully crafted fight sequences as they discover they were initially pit against one another in a secret plan carried out by Valentina Allegra De Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). While trying to escape, they meet a man by the name of Bob (Lewis Pullman) and take him along with them. Their personalities clash, lending to some of the best dialogue making for a fun watch, until things take a turn later down the line when they must face off collectively against Valentina’s little experiment, Sentry. Later met with a darker villain, this isn’t the only pill to swallow as they must confront the darkest corners of their past, making this perhaps the most emotional story ever tied into a Marvel title.
It’s easy to run to the theater for a Marvel film these days, because we know we can expect a solid watch. Thunderbolts* is so much more than just that, as the message and underlying tone are far louder than the action-packed visuals. When we first meet Yelena in the film, she seems quite unhappy with her life and is still not over her sister’s death, Natasha (Scarlett Johansson’s character met her demise in 2019’s Avengers: End Game). As she searches for purpose, you soon realize that she isn’t the only one who is haunted by her past. The dynamic between Yelena and Bob is one of the biggest pieces to the emotional aspect of the film as she is hellbent on making him feel like he is not alone. This truly is key through the third act and really where the characters begin to pull at your heartstrings. Going into the film, you wouldn’t expect there to be such a deep meaning behind what unravels in front of you. It’s so much more than a superhero flick – and it should be treated as such.
The flow of Thunderbolts* is solid as it doesn’t drag on in the same setting for too long, and this works well as it keeps you engaged and doesn’t lose your interest. Initially, the cast looks like Marvel threw together some random characters from previous films, but the way that they all work together is something you wouldn’t expect. While Pugh and Stan are the bigger faces out of the bunch for the MCU at the moment, the inclusion of the others is not to be underestimated. The way they handle defeat, then come together to face one of the most dangerous villains, is truly a sight to see. The combination of Sentry and the Void is fantastic because they are both some of the most powerful characters that we’ve ever gotten on screen.
What I loved the most about Thunderbolts* is the old feeling that Marvel films gave us in the beginning phases. They allow you to learn a little backstory about each character so you can appreciate their contribution. While Pullman serves as a threat to the team at one point, his performance was so heartwarming and drew a lot of empathy from the audience. His connection with Pugh is some of the best acting and is the heart of it all, and she, quite frankly, is destined to win an Oscar someday for her way of effortlessly depicting raw emotion. Overall, what I’ll remember the most about the movie isn’t the super cool action sequences or the funny punch lines sprinkled throughout (Yelena had some memorable ones I’ll be repeating for days). What left a lasting impression was the way it made me feel when I walked out, so fulfilling and vulnerable. We’ve all had hard times, but the message in Thunderbolts* is to simply not let it define you. The mid-credit and end-credit scenes and fun and exciting as well. With that being said, Marvel is so back, baby!