Ever since ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ fans of the MCU have been sorely disappointed with the films and shows that have come out. With plotlines that never intersect, cameos only used for initial shock value, and characters thrown away after one film, the MCU has been in a rough spot for a few years. But when Marvel fans step into the theater to see ‘Thunderbolts*,’ it gives them a glimmer of hope for the future of these characters that they’ve grown to love.
‘Thunderbolts*’ was released on May 2nd with a PG-13 rating. The film is directed by Jake Schreier and stars Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hannah John-Kamen, David Harbour and Wyatt Russell. The film is currently rated at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.7/10 on IMDb.
The film follows a team of vigilanties as they find themselves in a trap, having to work together to get out alive. From there, they team up to save one of their new friends from destroying the world, but also himself.
Known for directing the 2023 show ‘Beef,’ Schreier takes his own spin on the MCU and it pays off. Bringing his unique style, Schreier was able to create a team of heroes that the audience wants to root for, something that the MCU hasn’t been capable of in a long time. On top of that, Schreier, working together with the rest of the crew, was able to create a comic book film that doesn’t feel devoid of heart.
The star of the film is Pugh as Yelena Belova; utilizing her past MCU experience she was able to create a character that properly fits the trauma that her character’s experienced. Pugh mixed the light heartedness of Yelena that we see in ‘Black Widow’ as she teases her teammates, but in Yelena’s vulnerable moments, the pain of losing her sister, Natasha, slips through the cracks. Pugh was also able to create fun and different dynamics for Yelena with the other characters, making them feel like a real team.
Starring opposite her is Pullman as Bob Reynolds. Playing three different personalities in one character, Pullman was able to properly capture the essence of each character from the timid movements of Bob when his powers accidentally bring up bad memories for the others to the stoicness of Sentry when he fights. Taking on playing a character that is the physical embodiment of anxiety and depression isn’t an easy task, but Pullman was able to handle the weight of this character with care.
The script writer Eric Pearson is known for writing two other fan-favorite MCU films, ‘Black Widow’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ so it’s no surprise that ‘Thunderbolts*’ fit right into the hearts of many. Pearson gives the characters true hearts and problems that many people can see themselves in, making the audience want to root for the characters more. But most importantly, the Thunderbolts aren’t fighting an unknown hero from space or an evil government mastermind, they’re trying to save their friend from self-destruction, which also entails saving the world.
Composing the score was Son Lux, a band containing members Ryan Lott, Ian Chang and Rafiq Bhatia. Known for composing the score for the Oscar-winning film ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once,’ the trio was able to create another score with emotion pouring out from it. Throughout the score, you can “hear” what the characters are going through internally, especially in songs like ‘Not Alone.’
At its core, ‘Thunderbolts*’ is rooted in the team relationship, something that had been lost for years. By redirecting the film’s focus towards its characters’ bond, it creates a story that the audience feels connected to, just like how they felt in 2012 when watching ‘The Avengers.’ By combining a character-oriented story with a strong cast and a director who brings a new perspective to the MCU, ‘Thunderbolts*’ is a movie that you want to be sure you don’t miss.
