With the recent inconsistent quality of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it was difficult to be excited about a film like 'Thunderbolts*,' which follows a group of secondary anti-heroes as they team up to take on a larger threat. However, despite its premise, the film proves to be one of the most soulful entries into the MCU in years.
Despite being touted as a team-up film of morally ambiguous characters seen in previous entries into the MCU, the film's protagonist is, without a doubt, a radiant Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, a former Russian spy, turned mercenary operative who, at the start of the film, feels as though her life is without purpose after losing her sister, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow during the events of the mega-blockbuster 'Avengers: Endgame.'
She is encouraged by her adoptive father, Alexei Shostakov, better known as the Red Guardian, a Russian super-soldier, given enhanced strength and agility to become the Soviet Captain America, to serve a country to give her a sense of purpose.
However, Shostakov feels without purpose after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, running his own limousine company and nostalgically watching himself at Soviet military parades in his free time.
This is a common thread throughout the film that serves as the movie's biggest strength and weakness. Each member of the team, consisting of John Walker/U.S. Agent, Ava Starr/Ghost, Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier, the mysterious Bob, as well as Belova and Shostakov themselves, is seeking a sense of purpose when they find themselves in an international scandal that threatens their lives.
What each of these characters has in common is what brings them together in a convincing and powerful emotional light, as each member's traumatic past is explored through one of the team members' powers, which culminates in a powerful message about depression, shame, and redemption.
However, despite having a spectacular third act and a cast with extraordinary chemistry and charisma, 'Thunderbolts*' follows the 'ragtag group of misfits' formula to a tee, as the members don't get along at first but eventually grow to like each other as they unite to survive.
Despite the film's predictability, it boasts a surprisingly coherent visual language, as it is well-shot and edited, making its two-hour runtime go by incredibly quickly. Each set in the film feels like a real place with a detailed design instead of looking like a sterile blue screen.
Every actor gives a terrific performance, but the real standouts are Pugh and Lewis Pullman as Bob, a mysterious and powerful character, who Pullman portrays with a heartbreaking vulnerability that ties into the main theme of the movie.
'Thunderbolts*' feels like a breath of fresh air for the MCU despite its flaws, and it will likely be remembered as one of the best Marvel films this decade.
You can watch 'Thunderbolts*' in theaters on May 2nd.
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