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

Review

It’s difficult to judge a Marvel movie in and of itself. There is so much context to consider and expectations can be set by a mediocre lead-in (such as the disappointing Captain America: Brave New World, the last MCU release). I don’t know if it’s because I had such low expectations that were easily exceeded, or if the movie really is that great, but I thoroughly enjoyed Thunderbolts* more than any MCU since probably Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 two years ago.

Ostensibly a Black Widow sequel, the movie focuses on Yelena (Florence Pugh), aimless and looking for purpose. Still reeling from the death of her “sister” Natasha, Yelena spends her days doing the dirty work of now-CIA head Valentina de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who I’m ready to elevate to national treasure status). That dirty work sends her crashing into a slew of other rejects from Marvel projects (Ghost from Ant-Man and the Wasp, John Walker from the Falcon and Winter Soldier mini-series, Taskmaster and Red Guardian from Black Widow, and the Winter Soldier from I think about 9 other projects). The team trauma bonds with an amnesiac named Bob (Lewis Pullman) and attempt to expose Val, but, well, shit goes sideways.

The underlying themes of depression and regret are manifested as best they can in a superhero movie, and it’s nice to have a shoot-em-up that is ultimately about something. Pugh is a worthy leading actress. Pullman owns every scene he’s in. And Louis-Dreyfus really does so much with a snide comment here, a knowing look there. Val is really the second lead here and after her all-too-brief appearances in Wakanda Forever, Black Widow and the Falcon and Winter Solider mini-series really gets the chance to fully flesh out her big bad of the current phases. The promise of what’s next is also great set up for the future of the MCU.

Jonathan’s grade – B+

Review

I must admit, I’ve grown quite weary of the Marvel movie onslaught. However, from the moment I saw the first trailer for Thunderbolts, I held onto the hope that it would re-energize the universe for me. I’m pleased to report that it didn’t disappoint. The humor, the diverse cast of characters, and a compelling, unexpected villain all did a wonderful job of keeping my interest throughout the film. Remarkably, the big reveal wasn’t spoiled for me either. I highly recommend this movie to anyone experiencing similar superhero fatigue.

Jeff’s Grade – B