The Thunderbolts* Review

The first draft of this review mentioned the state of the MCU. But frankly that’s boring. We know that it peaked with Endgame. And we know that the TV, whilst some of it is great, has diluted the quality and splintered the story. Before you needed to watch the films. Now perhaps you need to see a show, and the films need to cater for those you have and haven’t.

Both MCU films this year so far follow on from Disney+ shows. Captain America: Brave New World wasted some big characters. Thunderbolts makes the most of lesser-known characters.

Yes, Thunderbolts is good. In some ways it might even be great. This is pleasing, particularly as I’ve been excited by the trailers. Creating an A24 style trailer explaining was a neat trick. To have that excitement matched is cool. But I did not expect to have my heartstrings tugged on quite so much.

Thunderbolts* is not shy or subtle about the subjects it’s dealing with. It isn’t as bombastic as many might expect, and it’s better for it. Because when it comes to an antagonist, this one is incredibly strong. It’s insidious, strong, and downright frightening. Depression and mental illness are subjects which a few years ago I would empathised with but not been scared by. Now however, the story showing us a group of broken people getting through each day at a time, and how they find purpose, felt extremely personal. I’d go into it more (and have launched into a vociferous defence of the film in real life!), but suffice to say I got a lot from it.

There’s a healthy dose of quipping, though the decisions and dialogue of each character makes sense to them. There isn’t the time to deep dive into everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed the interplay between them. To have Bucky enter the fray as someone who has already walked the road they are works well too. They’ve made him cool again! He’s been in every phase of the MCU, so seeing that history leaned on makes a lot of sense.

Bucky is a strong historical presence, and is easily matched by Florence Pugh as a fresher face. She’s just brilliant to watch. As “the new Black Window”, she’s a strong screen presence and the beating heart of proceedings. So good. I liked all of the Thunderbolts, but she is the best, and I think one of the best pieces of casting in the MCU.

I don’t know if it’s a top ten MCU, but where Cap 4 makes odd decisions in how it uses characters, Thunderbolts* makes the most of who it has. Who they are, how they are, and how they survive makes it more than the sum of its parts.