Carl Roberts 
“Although the film is rather entertaining and enjoyable, Thunderbolts is hollow, laboured and isn’t what we all hoped it would be.”
Thunderbolts* (The asterisk is important) is the newest MCU movie. And the final film of Phase 5. The film is directed by Jake Schreier and is based on a screenplay by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell. Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan. David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. In the film, a group of antiheroes are caught in a deadly trap and forced to work together on a dangerous mission.
This version of the classic comics picks and chooses from the various stories as to its members. This version consists of Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (founder). James “Bucky” Barnes (field leader). Black Widow (Yelena Belova). Ghost (Ava Starr). Red Guardian (Alexei Shostakov). Taskmaster (Antonia Dreykov) and U.S. Agent (John Walker). Can the film shake the ground and get the MCU back on its feet? Or is it simply a dull rumble that we can ignore?
PREMISE
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine traps a group of antiheroes and forces them into a dangerous mission that could bring them redemption if they unite as a team.
THOUGHTS
Let’s get this out of the way early. The film isn’t bad. In fact, at times, it is very, very good. However, despite the themes of loneliness, depression, mental health, and redemption, the film is hollow. It often seems that the film has crammed in several characters. Two actors, especially one, are severely underutilised, and it’s frustrating to see them in such a brief role. Their performances lack emotional depth because of this. On a positive note, the issues the film addresses are handled skillfully and compassionately, allowing the audience to grasp the more complex aspects of the characters’ natures. To be fair to the film, it feels like a reboot, returning to the original Marvel movies before they became the juggernauts we know and love, which climaxed with Avengers: Endgame.
Since then, every Marvel movie has struggled to match the heights of that film. Thunderbolts* is no different. It tries hard and at some points, succeeds. But sadly, these points are few and far between. What could, and rightly, should have become the next big event movie feels more like a trailer for what’s to come. Not that that’s a bad thing in reality, Iron Man did the same thing. But it feels like a slight letdown, considering the talent and the brilliance of most of the performances in the film.
FLORENCE PUGH AND DAVID HARBOUR
The main cast of the (anti) heroes is all in fine form, none more so than Florence Pugh. Here, returning to her role as Yelena Belova, the young actress takes the crux of the film on her shoulders and carries it with relative ease. It is she who gets the main role, bringing her character back and showing off everything she can do. She also does it with a streak of humour that elevates her performance, making her the character we all cheer for, mostly along the way. Make no mistake, Florence Pugh is in fine form, bringing Yelena’s darkness and emotional feelings to the fore.
The same has to be said for David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian. The banter between him and Yelena is often hilarious but also emotionally deep at times. Alexei is his usual goofy self, but underneath is a man who doesn’t know his place in the world. But by the end credits and the mid-credits stinger, we feel we have gotten to grips with him and his buffoonery. And Harbour has never been better as the character.
THE REST OF THE THUNDERBOLTS
Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/ The Winter Soldier are also on great form here. Hannah John-Kamen brings Ghost back in a superb way, all cockiness and emotional strength, thanks to getting to grips with her powers. She is a vital cog in the machine that is the film. Sebastian Stan though only gets to show some of what Bucky is capable of. His side story of being a member of the United States Congress is dispensed with too quickly.
One minute, Bucky is a politician; the next, the de facto leader of the Thunderbolts. It happens too quickly to be believable (I know, it’s a comic book movie, but still). Sebastian Stan makes great use of his appearance here but he comes across as a shadow of the character we know and love. He does manage to get a brilliantly funny scene in Bucky’s apartment concerning his cybernetic arm.
Wyatt Russell as John Walker/ U.S. Agent is great, but irritates us. But that is how his character is meant to be. At many stages of the film, he is called an a*****e, and every time, they are correct. But he, too, has a secret pain, a backstory that we get a small glimpse of. By the climax of the film, he is a vital member of the team and has grown on us. Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, I shall be nice and say at least she made an appearance. Why I say this, you will discover in the film, but it’s a waste of a character. We are all set to see Taskmaster’s redemption, only to be shortchanged. This is one aspect of the film that will annoy the audience: a brief appearance before departing the film.
LEWIS PULLMAN
Lewis Pullman is superb as Bob/ Sentry/ The Void. From his first appearance, we think that Bob is a nobody, someone who will irritate us throughout the film. Nothing could be further from the truth. Bob is the most important character in the entire film. It is his story that is the glue that holds the movie together. His demons of amnesia, feelings of abandonment and depression fuel the rise of Sentry and in the later stages, The Void. We feel for him throughout, despite knowing who and what he will become and the devastation he will rain down. Pullman gives his all as his conflicted character. And in doing so, becomes someone we can hope and cheer for.
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUSS
At the end of the day, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is the true villain of Thunderbolts. The actress gives us a villainess to be proud of. Valentina is so shady, nasty, and self-centred that we can’t help but enjoy every second she is on screen. It was de Fontaine who bought Avengers Tower, now called “Watchtower”, from Tony Stark in the film Spider-Man: Homecoming. Watching Valentina try to cover her tracks, command everything and order the deaths of the principals, all with a smile on her face and not raising her voice, is chilling as well as enjoyable. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss is marvellous, and we await seeing Valentina reappearing during Phase 6.
SCREENPLAY
The fault with the film lies in the screenplay by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo. Don’t get me wrong; the structure of the story, the tone they have chosen, and the issues that affect these characters shine through fabulously. But the plot is wafer-thin and contains holes big enough to drive an 18-wheel truck through. These glaring issues drag the film down from an epic must-watch into a hugely enjoyable but flawed comic book movie. It is a shame, but it is something the film can’t completely overcome.
DIRECTION
Jake Schreier’s direction is the perfect way to present a film like this. The tones he uses, the overall look of the film, and the performances he gets from his cast are almost exemplary. The colours are vibrant, the darker scenes are lit expertly, giving the film a washed-out, almost sepia look, and the special effects fit seamlessly in with the narrative and the flow of the film. Schreier is a masterful filmmaker, one I hope Marvel Entertainment re-employs in the future. He shows he can handle a film like this, and he does it with style and ease.
VERDICT
Although the film is rather entertaining and enjoyable, Thunderbolts is hollow, laboured and isn’t what we all hoped it would be. We all hoped for an Avengers-style event film. This tries hard but doesn’t quite make the grade. Again, that doesn’t mean to say it is a bad film, far from it. But the promise of something that would drag the MCU back after a spate of frankly underwhelming films doesn’t quite pay off. It is certainly better than virtually all the Marvel films since Avengers: Endgame (except Deadpool & Wolverine, but that was a 20th Century Studios film), and that is quite a feat. Thunderbolts manages to right the ship somewhat. It doesn’t do it completely, but it is an excellent try and should be commended, despite the empty feeling at times and the massive plot holes.
Thunderbolts contains two stingers, one during the mid-credits and the other right after them. The mid-credits stinger is a fun little addition that raises a few laughs. However, the one after the credits have ended, at first, feels like a pointless addition. It raises some laughs while playing into a sense of mystery. And then it happens. There are no spoilers here, but the audience will be cheering the house down. We should have seen it coming, but we don’t, and it makes for a great stinger. It ends a film that promised much, delivered mostly, but feels like a slightly missed opportunity. However, I look forward to seeing the Thunderbolts again. We are promised that much. Not so much as a roaring crack across the sky. But it does make a huge bang throughout. Enjoyable fun.
Thunderbolts will be in cinemas on May 1st, courtesy of Marvel Entertainment.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
