A scene from ‘Thunderbolts’

Review: ‘Thunderbolts’ has a superhuman ability to connect with audiences

‘Thunderbolts’ unites a team of outcasts who decide to put their super abilities to better use by saving the world instead of covering up corruption.

Many of the narratives in Marvel’s last two phases have focused on introducing new characters, reviving old ones and establishing the multiverse. Phase three’s Avengers: End Game was exactly that — the end of the Avengers as audiences had come to know them. But that doesn’t mean they’re no longer necessary or that another group of heroes can’t rise in their place, ready to defend the Earth from whatever malevolent destroyer threatens its existence. The Thunderbolts may not be everyone’s first choice, but the reluctant team is ready to save the city and fend off the monster.

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is in political hot water and quickly trying to destroy any evidence that could have her impeached. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is one of the many mercenaries tasked with cleaning up Valentina’s mess. On her last mission, she meets the rest of Valentina’s clean-up crew — John Walker (Wyatt Russell), a.k.a. failed Captain America 2.0, Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen), a.k.a. Ghost, and Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko), a.k.a. Taskmaster — and they all come across Bob (Lewis Pullman). In the meantime, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), formerly Winter Soldier, has become a congressman and is trying to fight the bad guys from within the system, and Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), a.k.a. Red Guardian, has taken up limo driving. But eventually this ragtag group of killers must band together to stop Sentry, an all-powerful, invincible force, before it destroys all of New York.

This is the new age of Marvel heroes. They’re not polished and their codes of ethics are questionable. Their superpowers are limited to superhuman strength and phasing, which means, as Yelena so aptly points out, for the most part they can all just punch and shoot. But there’s potential. Those that were heroes want to get back on the frontlines — though the coolness factor of their respective returns to the fray are on opposite ends of the spectrum — and the others are tired of bouncing from one job to the next, risking their lives without real purpose. This desire to no longer be inconsequential unites them, even when they can’t agree on anything else, including a name, which is derived from the most unexpected source.

Their ability to work together is truly tested when they’re forced to face an opponent that’s all strength, no weakness. Of course, the situation goes from bad to worse when the golden boy with a god complex is overcome by an even greater internal force, making him invincible, impenetrable and indifferent. Yet, even when facing insurmountable odds, this group of misfits run toward the danger because they are tenacious and have more heart than any of them would ever willingly admit.

This film also injects degrees of vulnerability and humanity into the superhero story that, for better or worse, make the characters more relatable. Mental health and specifically depression are at the narrative’s core. These formidable personalities are struggling before they team up, finding camaraderie in their shared unhappiness. The manifestations of their individual despair expose their deepest neuroses and asks audiences to accept them in spite of their scars.

The assembled characters have a great dynamic that only gets better as the film progresses. Harbour’s Red Guardian is once again larger than life now that he’s back in action, serving as the team’s annoying cheerleader that is funny even when he’s not trying. Yelena looks more and more like her sister, Natasha (Scarlett Johansson), emerging as the team’s natural leader, even though Walker thinks he deserves the title. It will be weird to eventually see besties Bucky and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) possibly butting heads as competing champions, but until then Bucky is maintaining his cool and collected demeanour.

There is, of course, a mid-credit sequence, which is amusing and completely in line with the featured character’s personality. But the post-credit scene is one of the best in recent memory as it really shows the potential of the team dynamics as they quarrel over minor details, playfully tease each other and stand alert when a threat is identified. Marvel’s future looks promising..

Director: Jake Schreier
Starring: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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