The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always excelled at bringing teams together—whether it’s the earth-shattering debut of The Avengers, the ragtag charm of Guardians of the Galaxy, or yes, even Eternals (we stan them in this house). Now, Thunderbolts* continues that legacy, assembling a crew of rogue misfits bound not by glory, but by grief, loneliness, and shame.
We open with ex-Black Widow Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh; A Good Person) finishing a mission for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis Dreyfus; Tuesday)—destroying evidence that could be used against Val in her impeachment trial. On Yelena’s next assignment, she runs into a few complications: Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen; Unwelcome), Taskmaster, and John Walker (Wyatt Russell; Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) —each sent to eliminate the other, a crafty trap set up by Val. Realizing that they are the loose ends that Val was trying to tie up, the unlikely team (plus an unexpected Bob) must work together to survive and uncover Val’s real endgame.
Comics have always been a powerful medium for exploring real-world struggles, and the themes presented in Thunderbolts* show a return to form. Florence Pugh delivers a soul-baring performance as Yelena. Often, stories rush past personal moments in favor of the next battle, but Thunderbolts* slows down to show us the effect this life can have on a person—the cost of the choices they’ve made. Between Yelena and Bob, played by the adorable Lewis Pullman (Skincare), this story transcends the recent superhero formula.
The film isn’t all tears and gloom. After a turbulent start, it oscillates between wry wit and gutting vulnerability. Yelena, still grieving the loss of her sister, Natasha Romanoff, keeps taking assignments from Val—because what else does she have? We see her try to fill the void with work and other self-destructive distractions, none of which solve the problem. Similarly, the film zeroes in on Bob’s history of mental illness. Together, Pugh and Pullman deliver visceral performances that’ll bruise your heart.
There’s arresting imagery used to illustrate overwhelming loneliness and how it warps your self-perception. That void doesn’t just haunt you, it distorts your reality and traps you in a mindset that refuses to loosen its grip. But Thunderbolts* argues for the lifeline of community: when you’re too lost to see past the pain, that’s when you need your crew most to reflect the truth back at you and act as a beacon so you can find your way back to the light — to healing.
Thunderbolts* is a lot of fun. It boasts a PG-13 rating, though some of the themes are a little dark for the younger crowd, so parents might want to view it first. The use of practical effects and stunts makes the world feel more grounded, even among superhuman characters. Pugh and Pullman shine, but David Harbour’s (Stranger Things) Red Guardian embodies the ultimate supporting character, shouldering the majority of the moments of levity.
Stay after the credits, the film hints towards projects to come that remind us that this story is connected to the larger universe. Fun but also achingly relatable, Thunderbolts* is a great film to kick off the summer Blockbuster season. It’s not a downer, but bring tissues if your heart’s been heavy.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.
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