THUNDERBOLTS* could be the B-team Avengers in more ways than one. How fun would it be if the future of the MCU was all hinged on how audiences respond to two sets of hero’s. There are certain endearing qualities to this rag tag crew, and regardless how you feel about this film in particular, there is no doubt we want to see them go on more adventures.
Synopsis: After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late? | 2h 6m | Rated PG-13 for strong violence, language, thematic elements, and some suggestive and drug references.
This film takes place pretty close on the heels of Captain America: Brave New World, with Senator Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) trying his best to help impeach the conniving Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Bucky works best though in the field and reluctantly ends up working with a few “wait-I-think-I-have-seen-them-somewhere-before” supes including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell). New to the fold are Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen) and Bob (Lewis Pullman).
Depression, regret, loss, and longing are not a foundation to build a team on, yet that seems to be the fabric that is woven into all of them. The vibrato and strut of Thor, Stark, Loki, and Cap is replaced these days with broken, devalued, and unhinged superheroes struggling to just do something of importance. They get their chance when Bob turns out to be more than just a dude in distress. Poor New York is again the back drop for destruction and chaos, as Bob gets in touch with his darker, inner, feelings.
It is hard to say who rises to the surface in this one character wise. Obviously Yelena is leading the charge here. John Walker is the attitude we need to balance all the weepy angst, and Alexiei is the comic relief. Ava Starr has cool abilities which feel more inline with DC, but she gets lost in the ether. We know nothing about her and nothing here makes us care to find out. The coolest character is Bob. If the future films find a way to flesh him out it could be very special. Truth be told all roads still come back to Barnes and Fontaine as the reason anything moves forward.
Without Stark and Banner the MCU is certainly more brawn than brain these days. That is not a bad thing and does create the need for more stylized action. Most of the fighting is hand to hand combat, with little or no reliance on tech-savvy gear. Again these are not highly funded Super Heroes. Unlike Sam Wilson, they are not being invited to the WhiteHouse to pose for photos with the prez. They are out here doing the bidding of Fontaine as literal mercenaries. No flashy suits or fancy cars. just making a living and doing anything they can to push down the sadness and regret. This eludes back to the question of what do audiences want. The old guard of Wilson and what he would assemble as the Avengers? Or this new rough and tumble band with nothing to lose?
Thunderbolts* seems to echo how many feel in today’s social and political climate. Fear, anger, and a debilitating sense of unbeatable injustice permeates the conversation, and the future both in the film and the MCU as a whole. Thunderbolts is not going to save the franchise but it at least gives us plenty of action and some of that Super Humor we long for. Fontaine is a formidable opponent and a character that we hope to see more of going forward. She has been up to some shady shenanigans which might blow up in her face. We do not get a lot of back story in this one which makes the plot a little too thin for those wanting to know it all.
A concern for the future of the MCU is if we want to see another thirty-plus films if this is the new launch pad. Yes, as a one off this movie was certainly entertaining and an I-Max treat. Will the accents and remorse get old after three or four more adventures? Possibly. I am not sure how far Bucky’s arm and Alexei’s exuberance can take us. But at least here, for a moment, it is a fun watch.
Critics may try and trash this one due to how far removed it is from the MCU of old. That is unfair. General audiences will be more forgiving and rightly so. There is a brand new generation of movie goers who were not even born when Iron Man came out. They know the lore a little but this will be the MCU that they call their own. We can try and convince them that Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd are far better, but they dance to a different drum, and cheer for a more huggable hero. Though we prefer the brash Stark who could care less about hangups and trigger warnings, we may have to embrace the new U.
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