The Screen Scribe

Everyone loves a good redemption story, from Schindler’s List to the Shawshank Redemption, but especially superhero characters. The MCU itself is rife with memorable redemption arcs with the likes of Loki, Yondu, Nebula and most importantly for this new entry, Bucky Barnes, embarking on journeys of self-discovery and reflection that has led to them evolving from villains into heroes. But perhaps more importantly for Marvel Studios’ newest release, The Thunderbolts*, the redemption arc is two-fold. It’s not just the ragtag group of B-list characters seeking redemption here, but the once mighty film studio itself after years of subpar and unsatisfying releases post-Endgame. And for the most part, that redemption is achieved. The Thunderbolts* is a fun, humorous and action-packed superhero film that hearkens back to the glory days of the MCU, but it is not without its flaws as well, much like its cast of heroes. The film tackles some weighty subject matter that is particularly resonant on many levels despite not always sticking the landing. The humour, while often reminiscent of classic MCU, doesn’t always hit the right notes. But I’ll get back to that, for now let’s jump into the plot summary.

A group of anti-heroes and villains are thrust together unexpectedly after being betrayed by their corrupt government employer Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Under impeachment from the US Government for shadowy operations and human experimentation, Valentina is attempting to clean house and that includes her operatives. But when they discover they have been betrayed, Yelena Belova, John Walker, Ava Starr and Alexei Shostakov team up under the leadership of the legendary Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes to uncover and foil Valentine’s schemes and save the world.

While The Thunderbolts* successfully rekindled the old spirit of the MCU, it had some glaring issues that held it back from being a truly great entry into the Marvel pantheon. In particular it suffers from the age-old problem of strong opening, middling second act, and rushed third act. Many Marvel movies and TV shows have fallen prey to similar issues such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, WandaVision and Captain Marvel. This is a particularly egregious error given the complicated nature of its villain and the conflict of his duel personas, it feels like a missed opportunity. The humour at times felt forced and out of place, especially in Bucky’s case. He isn’t there to be funny, it’s not his character. He is a badass former-assassin and when allowed to be that his character shines. Bucky desperately needs his own solo movies in the vein of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The Thunderbolts* tackles some pretty heavy and complex subject matter for an MCU film, such as suicide, abusive parents, alcoholism, repressed trauma and serious mental health issues. And while it’s refreshing to see Marvel make bold steps like this, the beats don’t always land especially well, in particular with the Sentry which at times felt like it villainised mental trauma.

Despite the aforementioned concerns, however, The Thunderbolts* is a much-needed shot of super soldier serum in the arm of the MCU. It doubles down on the most successful aspects of the MCU that are tried and true, such as a grounded (mostly) story, a fun team-up with characters (and actors) with excellent chemistry, mostly practical effects, stunts and shooting locations and satisfying character development and progressive narrative beats that propel the MCU overarching story, something sorely lacking in the last two phases. The actors deliver heartfelt and emotional performances, anchored by the magnetic Florence Pugh and MCU veteran Sebastien Stan. The end-credits scene is at last a must watch and is perhaps the best stinger scene since the Infinity Saga concluded.

Despite its issues, The Thunderbolts* is a return to form for the MCU, recapturing some of the old magic and hopefully, breathing new life into future instalments. While it’s Rotten Tomatoes score of 88% is possibly more indicative of how well its regarded in comparison to recent Marvel fares, I don’t believe it stacks up with MCU classics such as The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winder Soldier who also bear some of the highest scores in MCU history. Nevertheless, The Thunderbolts* is worth the price of admission and two hours of your time, especially for die-hard Marvel fans.

3 / 5 ✨ from the Screen Scribe.

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