Thunderbolts* is a refreshing delight in a jaded superhero world

4 out of 5

In Thunderbolts*, the setup of a team composed of quirky characters who must learn to cooperate is intriguing. This concept, seen in many films following Guardians of the Galaxy, is relatively new for Marvel, especially with the Guardians' storyline concluding. Now, Marvel seeks to recapture that magic with a new ensemble, primarily featuring characters from Disney+ projects and prominently showcasing Florence Pugh. She aims to join the select group of young movie stars, crucial for the superhero genre as it faces declining interest.

Thunderbolts* focuses on characters struggling to find their place in the world. Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, also known as Black Widow, is involved in covert missions for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). After a conversation with her father, Alexei (David Harbour), she decides to leave after one final mission. This mission leads to a confrontation with other agents, including U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), in a trap meant to eliminate them. During the chaos, they encounter Bob (Lewis Pullman), who is unaware of his surroundings.

Pugh and Pullman share great chemistry, and the film quickly establishes a connection between their characters. Valentina faces repercussions from her past actions as Congress holds hearings to remove her from her position, which introduces Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) as a new congressman collaborating with Congressman Gary (Wendell Pierce).

A significant part of the film is the sarcasm-filled developing friendship between Belova, Walker (U.S. Agent), and Ava Starr (Ghost). These three initially dislike each other but become a strong trio by the movie's midpoint. Harbour is comical in his role, eager to return to action in his Red Guardian suit. He fits well with the other characters, portraying an embarrassing yet endearing father figure to Yelena; their dynamic is spot-on.

Another central element of the film, besides Yelena, is Pullman's Bob. Without spoiling, Bob is revealed to be a superpowered individual known as The Sentry. The Sentry is a complex character, raising questions about his integration into the MCU. In this film, director Jake Schreier and screenwriters Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo use Bob to embody the core issues faced by the heroes.

The film's visuals include outdoor shots and sets, moving away from blue screen reliance. It's refreshing to see an MCU film that feels more like a traditional movie, using real locations to create a more cinematic experience.

Although there are "bad guys" in the movie, the final conflict centers on overcoming personal struggles rather than a simple good vs. evil battle.

Thunderbolts* features impressive fight choreography, a strong story, and a fun new team addition to the MCU. It's highly rewatchable and surpasses the previous entry, Captain America: Brave New World. It promises to be more satisfying for audiences and serves as a good lead-in for Fantastic Four: First Steps later this summer.

The asterisk is explained in the film.