I'll admit, after seeing Captain America: Brave New World earlier this year, I was pondering whether I would bother with Thunderbolts* and continue investing time in the MCU, which has now officially reached Phase Six(!). (And to be honest I don't really understand what that actually means, since both Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* are officially part of Phase Five, but seem more like the start of Phase Six?)
But I decided to give it one last shot with Thunderbolts*, and despite the lingering resentment I have over the fact that it is essentially kicking Sinners out of IMAX screens after only two weeks (though Sinners will be back), I will admit, it's convinced me not to quit the Marvel teat quite yet.
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is the center of the film, and is facing an existential dilemma. Clearly, the death of her sister, the Black Widow, has had a lingering effect on her, and as the movie opens, she's questioning her own worth and existence. A secret op assignment from CIA director Valentina de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss) leads to a team-up between Belova, the new assholish Captain America (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Belova's father, Red Guardian (David Harbour), and a guy named Bob (Lewis Pullman).
This band of anti-heroes, some of whom would really prefer to be known as just heroes, join forces with the Winter Solider (Sebastian Stan) in fighting a familiar villain, and a new one, and it's this new villain which ends up feeling refreshingly novel. I've grown pretty tired of superhero villains whose goals are world conquering and/or destruction, with big battles that end up destroying cities. The villain in Thunderbolts* is essentially the deepest pits of depression personified, and that's a pretty relatable and scary foe to face.
To be clear, Thunderbolts* is still filled with lots of fights, shooting, and some urban destruction; the usual beats of a Marvel movie are all here. But what feels new is the decidedly human, emotional pain the heroes and villain have to face and try to overcome. I think it probably goes without saying that Florence Pugh is great, and the rest of the Thunderbolts, particularly David Harbour's Red Guardian, have their moments; Marvel movies have never been lacking when it comes to comic performances. But it's the darkness of this one that will linger.
*and be sure stay to the very end of the credits to learn what that asterisk is all about.
