Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts*
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must go on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
Hipster ZOMBIE reviewed6d ago
Marvel Studios doesn’t completely rebound with their latest entry, Thunderbolts, but it is at least a step in the right direction.
Typically I think the whole anti-hero thing is kind of played out but it works here for the overall story.
Marvel side lines woke messaging that have plagued their last couple of projects for a grittier, more grounded team-up movie that trades clean-cut heroics for complicated characters, visceral action, and a surprisingly sincere look at trauma and redemption.
From its opening sequence, Thunderbolts delivers hard-hitting, brutal action that stands apart from the glossy spectacle of recent MCU installments. The fight choreography is raw and unpolished—matching the personalities of a team made up of anti-heroes, ex-assassins, and broken soldiers. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) continues to shine with her dark humor, likability and her banter with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) which adds levity without undercutting the film’s darker tone.
Now I know a lot of people are going to bring up the mental health aspect of the film and either rave about it or absolutely HATE it. It didn’t detract anything from my experience and I actually quite liked the way they chose to depict it and the film’s final resolution.
Director Jake Schreier smartly balances action and introspection, making sure the quieter moments between characters land just as hard as the explosive ones. Thunderbolts doesn’t offer clean answers or easy redemption, but it leans into the idea that healing is messy—and often, it’s done best with others who are just as lost.
Thunderbolts however is not a perfect film. By the end the film wants to try to sell these loveable Z-listers as the New Avengers and after seeing these guys so easily get manhandled by a major threat, the idea of having them as Earth’s protectors isn’t very reassuring. Also Julia Louis Dreyfus once again shows just how horribly miscast she is here as
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, where’s Nick Fury?
Overall Thunderbolts blends chaotic energy with grounded emotion, anchored by compelling performances and a thoughtful exploration of mental scars.