Film opinion: ‘Thunderbolts*’ is a glorious return to form for the MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) desperately needed a win as it ramps up to The Fantastic Four: First Steps this summer and next year’s mega-crossover event, Avengers: Doomsday.
It was hoped that win would be delivered by Captain America: Brave New World, but Anthony Mackie’s first feature as Cap was a messy, poorly reviewed false starter.
However, Film News Blitz’s David Bason writes that Thunderbolts* is just the film the MCU needed to remind audiences this franchise juggernaut can still produce quality films.
A cinematic Showcase
Before we dive into the wonders of Thunderbolts* it’s worth mentioning the venue this big-screen adventure was consumed in.
For this particular feature, Film News Blitz rocked up at the local Showcase Cinema and watched Thunderbolts* on the gargantuan XPlus screen.
A wall-to-wall massive screen was the perfect showcase for a film comprised of dramatic action set pieces and is a highly recommended way of experiencing Thunderbolts* in cinemas.
What’s more, plus recliner seats make it a comfortable movie-viewing experience as well.
C-Listers become A-listers
Thunderbolts* centres on a series of supporting characters from various past MCU projects, particularly ones who either held an ambiguous or villainous role.
There’s Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, aka, US Agent, last seen as a disgraced Captain America in The Falcon and Winter Soldier Disney+ series and Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost from Ant-Man and the Wasp, plus the Black Widow duo, Red Guardian and Yelena Belova, portrayed by David Harbour and Florence Pugh respectively.
Not a single one of these characters was considered a fan favourite in years past and most certainly the projects they were associated with weren’t considered standout either, but in Thunderbolts*, each and every one of them thrives.
Originally pitted against one another by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Val, this bunch of would-be heroes is banded together by Sebastian Stan’s effortlessly cool Bucky to prevent Lewis Pullman’s Bob/Sentry from being disastrously corrupted.
Director Jake Schreier, known for Robot & Frank (2012), Paper Towns and Beef (2023) makes his MCU debut here with a refreshing verve for producing humour and heartfelt drama in equal measure, based from a vibrantly witty, tight screenplay by Marvel regular Eric Pearson (Thor: Ragnarok, Black Widow) and The Bear showrunner Joanna Calo.
Why Thunderbolts* is a gem
For years, the MCU was built on solidly told action stories with threads of humour and genuine character building that proved to be a hit at the box office and with critics alike.
Since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, that form has wavered with Phases 4 and 5 of the MCU being inconsistent, over-saturated and littered with critical failures.
After the disappointment of Brave New World, the MCU first turned a positive corner on the small screen with the triumphant Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again, a violent tale of Matt Murdock’s descent to darkness amid Kingpin’s deceitful rise to power.
Thunderbolts* picks up the baton on the big screen, with a well-written screenplay, and strong performances by the core cast, who are all at the top of their game.
Bringing a spotlight to lesser-loved characters brings them to life in an incredible way.
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Harbour’s Red Guardian brings genuine laughs, and Russell’s Walker turns a previously divisive character into a potential fan favourite.
Stan’s Bucky Barnes grounds things in familiarity for long-serving MCU fans and John-Kamen’s Ghost outshines her appearance in the Ant-Man sequel tenfold.
But the two stars of the show are Pugh and Pullman.
Thunderbolts* benefits from Pugh’s recent rise to superstardom as one of the finest young performers in cinema, and she is the captain steering this film’s ship.
Pugh’s Yelena Belova takes the mantle of Black Widow in this film and is every bit a worthy successor to Scarlett Johansson and an emotional scene with Harbour’s paternal figure is one of this film’s many highlights.
Pullman, meanwhile, as Bob, later the all-powerful multi-ego Sentry/Void, expertly displays a tortured soul suffering from childhood trauma and mental illness.
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Pugh and Pullman’s chemistry as two spirits with different, but comparative trauma is the strongest element of this film and [spoilers] as Thunderbolts* heads into its final act, the way the group of core characters display friendship and support to save Bob from his dark alter-ego, the Void, is truly beautiful.
It’s a new take on the classic Marvel team-up, all the better for it, and it’s a relief to witness a well put-together MCU project.
The crux hurting Thunderbolts* is that its predecessor in cinemas, Captain America: Brave New World, was considered a critical failure, and no doubt is impacting the box office of this far stronger follow up entry into the MCU.
As it stands, Thunderbolts* has crossed the $280 million threshold worldwide, accounting for its combined production and marketing budget.
It’s potentially on course to surpass $400 million, which would put it in the lower league of MCU grosses.
If Brave New World had nailed the landing, perhaps figures now would be different, but they do nothing to diminish how strong a film Thunderbolts* is.
The New Avengers
A few short days into its release, Marvel began to rebrand Thunderbolts*, revealing what the asterisk was for in unveiling a different title for the film, The New Avengers.
This tallies with Val’s reveal to the watching press following the film’s final confrontation, whereby she unveils Bucky, Red Guardian, Ghost and Belova as the new Avengers team.
It’s a plot point that is extended in the mid-credits scene and feels like one of the most structured choices made by the MCU in years.
After a film as good as Thunderbolts*, it's reassuring we will see more of these characters moving forward, starting with Avengers: Doomsday.
Crucially, however, given the New Avengers reveal at the end of Thunderbolts*, it’s a relief knowing the MCU can still produce strong stories.
This is imperative for the future of the franchise, which looks like it could be built on the backs of this rag-tag bunch of newfound heroes.
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