Thunderbolts* Review
The MCU’s latest tells of their ragtag group of misfits trying to save the world: enter Thunderbolts*…
Let’s be frank: Marvel needs a win. After its colossal success with their huge swing for the fences in 2008’s Iron Man up to their “finale” with Avengers: Endgame, the studio had been riding a cinematic wave not seen since Star Wars first burst onto the scene in 1977. Unprecedented global joys, billions at the box office, and an interconnected universe of films that fans lapped up repeatedly made it all a cinematic dream come true. Then the pandemic hit, and, like some strange subversive subtext, it marked a turn towards its own Void. Not entirely, of course, but it certainly had a big hand in it.
The Guardians of the Galaxy disbanded, Captain America changed guises, Ant-Man got lost in now-arbitrary Quantumania, Thor had Love and Thunder problems, and The Avengers were no more. It wasn’t for the want of trying, but Marvel had lost their way in a maelstrom of too much, too soon, and seemingly without having the same planning as before. Its success was, of course, unprecedented, and it couldn’t predict where it would end. So it seems apt, and timely, that their salvation, and ours, lies in the hands of a bunch of misfits who have arrived to save the day in more ways than one.
Simply put, Thunderbolts* is the MCU’s saviour: Without the burdens of playing guess the universe or being led by countless other things, it’s easily the best film it’s produced since Endgame and one of the most unexpected but undeniably enjoyable films since its inception. High praise indeed, given the roster of amazing films it’s produced, but given the timing and position in the MCU, it’s a near-perfect resuscitation for the series. Jake Schreier, off small-screen successes with Beef and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, brings a freshness and renewed vigor to the film, similar in some ways to James Gunn- but it’s perhaps his 2012 film Robot & Frank that made him the perfect filmmaker to shepherd this one.
That film dealt with how loneliness, mental health pressures, sadness through loss, and solitude affect the human condition and, in what will be surprising to many, that’s at the heart of Thunderbolts*. Yes, these are heroes – some more super than others – but each of them finds themselves defined by such things, even when they are called to save the world. Yelena, played magnificently (once again) by Florence Pugh, still in shock from the death of her sister Natasha and her loss of contact with father figure Alexi (Harbour), himself plagued by similar heartaches; Stan’s Bucky is, as before, finding himself lost as the last man out of time; John-Kamen’s Ava is battling the darkness that comes from her unique psychological disease; and Russell’s Agent Walker tries to balance his new found infamy whilst trying to be a father.
But it’s Pullman’s Bob, shrouded in secrecy about his true character in the series (though recent trailers have revealed some of the truth), is the one that, somewhat surprisingly, has more depth and poignancy of all of them put together. It is his demons of childhood and adulthood that lead him down both the path towards either salvation or darkness, which is reflected beautifully, and rather touchingly, in his character as he begins to find his true self. Perceptively written by Joanna Calo (The Bear, Beef) and MCU regular Eric Pearson, there is a depth and pathos here unlike much we have seen along the way.
If you’re looking for the action kicks, there’s plenty to keep those itches scratched – though, strangely, some of them are the weakest parts of the film, despite some truly energetic in-camera fisticuffs – but there’s far more at play here and the payoff is richer and much more profound than anyone will be expecting. This is a story about redemption and friendship, and while it serves its purpose in the grander scheme of things, Thunderbolts* is such a surprise and so brilliantly executed, that it won’t matter what comes next: you’ll be too busy wanting to join the team and singing Starship on your way out to care.
★★★★
In cinemas May 1st / Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Olga Kurylenko / Dir: Jake Schrier / Marvel Studios / 12A
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