THUNDERBOLTS* Review

After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

If you thought it’d be best to go in with lowered expectations, you wouldn’t be wrong. I did, and it assisted with my overall enjoyment of the film. These supporting characters are fun, but not necessarily in a leading role; however, teaming them up created something worthwhile. Thunderbolts* is the latest film in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), and after its viewing, it does hold a special place within this collection of films. While the characters left a lasting mark in their previous installments, this film answers questions about this new team that you didn’t even know had a casual or even a die-hard fan.

She may not have been born for the role of the leader of a group, but her character, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), definitely stole it. This is easily one of the best performances not only in the MCU, but for the year. From the instant this film takes flight, it’s as if you’re in a therapy session with her going through all past traumatic events as well as yours. It was the counseling session you weren’t aware you needed. As a plus, this film not only opens with this tone, but concludes with it as well, giving you the sense that you’ve accomplished something, or reached the next level of growth enlightenment. This theme is also shared by the main antagonist of the film Sentry/The Void (Lewis Pullman). He shared some of the same sentiments that a good portion of the population could relate to. The unfortunate factor of his presence was an explanation of his power. It made sense theatrically but not visually. The idea seemed plausible on paper, but when the final act action showdown commences with The Void, I was left a bit confused. However, as Sentry, the character was a powerhouse. Let’s just say there’s no reality where you can beat this person in a physical fight. The acting was a bit distracting coming from the character as well, as if he was fully committed or had enough time to study who he was portraying. I’ll let the comic book experts on this character elaborate more if I’m incorrect.

**(L-R) John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 MARVEL.**

However, this film has many themes that echo the real world. Those who are obsessed with power, lies, manipulation, and the value of proper communication. It’s amazing what can be achieved, especially when the latter is taken seriously. But what is this movie actually about? It’s about coming up with a plan when it seems all has failed, and making the best out of the situation. The characters that illustrate this (The Thunderbolts*) work this out through all of their vast differences and similarities. It’s fun and light-hearted, not taking itself too seriously without being too comical or having jokes at the worst times, like during an intense action scene. It was the perfect balance between being too serious and being an overzealous laugh track. It was fun getting to know the characters more on a personal level, and the banter between them was entertaining, but could’ve been dialed down a bit at times. As far as the action is concerned, there was a beautiful display of all of the characters’ powers and abilities, and it is exactly what you signed up for if you’re a comic book/superhero fanatic.

My Rating : 8/10