Reviews

Ever since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, Marvel movies have been more of a mixed bag, with the most recent outings feeling generic and lacklustre. Can Thunderbolts* turn things around? Time to find out.

In the new ensemble team-up movie, Florence Pugh is back as Russian former child assassin Yelena Belova, who we first met in 2021’s Black Widow.

She is grieving her dead sister Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and in a very dark place.

She accepts another job from her boss Valentina Allegra De Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and realises it’s a lethal trap for her and fellow anti-heroes John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) and Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).

The trio team up with each other, plus Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier and Yelena’s father figure Alexei/Red Guardian (David Harbour), to take down Valentina and rescue her mysterious test subject Bob (Lewis Pullman).

After a run of hollow action spectacles, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is back on form with Thunderbolts*, which tries something new with the Marvel formula.

It still has the typical action setpieces and the usual sense of humour, but it also tackles darker themes that you’d never expect from a superhero film.

Loneliness, grief and mental health are at the heart of this emotionally resonant, character-driven story, which has more depth and feels more grounded in reality than usual.

Director Jake Schreier does a fantastic job of bringing these disparate characters together and making them work as a team.

Their alliance doesn’t feel forced and the bond evolves naturally over time to the point where you really support them as a unit.

While it is an ensemble movie, the story revolves around Pugh and she carries the emotional weight of the film (with some help from Pullman).

She has a lot to sink her teeth into dramatically and presents Yelena at her most vulnerable (a rarity for Marvel), while still producing funny quips and cool action moves.

While the focus has been on the themes and story, rest assured that Thunderbolts* it is still as much fun as your typical Marvel outing.

The banter and camaraderie between the team is hilarious and there are some entertaining action sequences, although slightly less the usual.

Thunderbolts* is the first great Marvel movie since 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy 3. It isn’t perfect but it gives us hope for the next outings, Fantastic Four: The First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday.

In cinemas from Thursday 1st May.

By Hannah Wales.

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