Thunderbolts recaptures the magic that once defined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While it follows a familiar story structure, it stands out as a rare exception among recent Marvel films. Joining the ranks of Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine in delivering genuine excitement and fan satisfaction.
In recent years, the MCU has faced growing criticism for inconsistent storytelling and unflattering films. With fan enthusiasm waning after a string of underwhelming releases, like Captain America: Brave New World, with lower than average reviews. The franchise seemed in need of a creative revival.
The plot follows Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) as she searches for purpose beyond her past. After seeking a more public role, she turns to Valentina, her powerful yet shady boss, who agrees on the condition of Yelana completing one last mission.
Unbeknownst to Yelena, Valentina is busy clearing out incriminating evidence while under investigation for her controversial medical trial. As she works to erase all traces that could expose her as a criminal, Valentina also eliminates the special operatives she assembled for Yelena’s final mission.
When things don’t go as planned the group of anti-heros escape with a mysterious man named Bob (Lewis Pullan) and his unknown set of powers.
As the group tries to escape the secret lab where Valentina trapped them, they’re forced to work together, even though they don’t fully trust each other. Along the way, they start to open up about their pasts and what really matters to them. They realize that escaping isn’t just about getting out—it’s also about facing who they are and what they’re willing to give up to do the right thing.
The third act is where things kick off. Bob loses control of his dark side, Void takes over. Void is powerful and dangerous, attacking both enemies and teammates. The team realizes they have to save Bob from himself. Instead of fighting him, they work together to help him remember who he really is.
Thunderbolts brings a deeper, more emotional side to the MCU that we haven’t seen before—while still delivering plenty of laughs. David Harbour’s Alexei Shostakov stands out as the heart of the humor, bringing much-needed levity to the film’s darker moments.
It also has an amazing cast. I thought Florence Pugh did an amazing job portraying her character. One of the first scenes seen in the film is Yelena falling off of the second highest building in the world; that of which was a real stunt filmed by Pugh. She is an amazing actress and brought such a great character to life.
The studio also welcomed back Sebastion stan as the winter soldier. Giving him an intense action scene and a big role into why the group was formed.
I thought the movie was great, especially after some of the more disappointing films Marvel Studios has released. It brought back what we enjoyed most about the older movies. It had great characters and a thought out storyline that mixed humor, seriousness, and teamwork.
