Film Review: Thunderbolts* is a welcome adjustment to the familiar formula of superhero movies
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THUNDERBOLTS* is the latest offering from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and easily one of the strongest entries in the superhero series in recent memory.
For those wondering, the asterisk in the title is intended and definitely important – you might just have to wait to the end of the film to understand its importance. The plot of Thunderbolts* is refreshingly simple: a band of mercenaries are all sent on the same mission, only to realise they have walked into a death trap. Keen to survive, they agree to settle their differences and form an unlikely team to defeat their common enemy. On the path to justice, an intense bond forms within the team as they are forced to face the darkest corners of their past.
The best thing about Thunderbolts* is that it feels like one cohesive story from beginning to end. It doesn’t feel like a studio-driven project that was filtered through numerous test screenings and reshot a thousand times in a desperate attempt to create a crowd-pleaser. No, this film has an original and authentic quality to it that has been sorely missing from the Marvel universe in recent years.
The cast are all stellar. Florence Pugh stars as Yelena Belova, a trained assassin who is struggling to find her purpose in life. Pugh’s performance is entirely engaging and convincing as she balances comedic and serious scenes throughout. Oscar-nominated Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky Barnes with his usual smouldering intensity. Wyatt Russell turns in a surprisingly layered performance as the disgraced Captain America, while David Harbour provides much of the comic relief as the Red Guardian, the Soviet Union’s forgotten super-soldier. An unexpected standout in this star-studded cast is Lewis Pullman as Bob, a troubled young man who is struggling to come to terms with his newfound powers and abilities. Pullman’s performance is the beating heart at the centre of this film and may even illicit the shedding of a tear from some.
Strong performances aside, the film also offers excellently choreographed action scenes that feel gritty and hard-hitting while never venturing into the familiar realm of CGI-heavy, superhero action.
While there is plenty of action, the film does not prioritise it, choosing instead to focus on its characters and their relationships. It soon becomes clear that every member of the Thunderbolts team is fighting an inner battle with personal demons and most of them are losing that battle. The fact that the film takes time to slow down and explore the difficult subject of mental health may well be its greatest strength.
In short, Thunderbolts* is a surprising-yet-welcome adjustment to the familiar formula of superhero movies and is well worth the watch for fans of the genre.
