Ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes: Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker, embarks on a dangerous mission that forces them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
 |
| (C) Marvel |
Explosions. Infinity Stones. Multiverses. For almost two decades now, the people behind Marvel have built a universe full of characters with their own storylines that continues to expand. It's easy to get lost in the mix—and for some time now, it seems even Marvel itself got a bit lost in its own world.
Enter the Thunderbolts*. What makes this work is its return to a back-to-basics mode. Here, the film takes its time developing the relationships between group members, designing specific sequences to serve that goal. Fortunately, these moments all feel organic. They’re also funny, as we’ve come to expect from Marvel.
However, what really makes this a standout among recent Marvel entries is its choice to focus on individual moments for its characters. It manages to use these characters to say something more. The film actually means something, and I appreciate it for that. Plus, when you have Florence Pugh in the lead, there’s no doubt things can be elevated. At the end of the day, these are complex people in a complex world. Lewis Pullman also proves to be an amazing complement to Pugh and the rest of the team.
This leads us to a very unique third act for a Marvel film. The movie impressively wraps up its core themes without sacrificing scale. Despite its uniqueness, the ending still feels big and rewarding.
Thunderbolts* accomplishes what many recent Marvel films have struggled with: making us root for the characters and feel genuinely excited about what’s next. I left the theater ready for more. 4/5.
