Movie Review: Marvel leans on lower-tier superheroes in intriguing ‘Thunderbolts’

After a decade in which the Marvel Cinematic Universe went from creating theatrical weekend events to just a video comic book series, the franchise has produced its first semi-original project in eons with Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts.

With a traditional Dirty Dozen set-up starring B-list comic characters and no A-listers from Phases 1-2 in sight, Marvel and Disney were betting on success without any guarantee. But in many ways, when you’re at a low point in your brand, it’s probably best to just throw caution to the wind and see if audiences will accept something new. And it looks like it has paid off.

After spending her life as either an assassin or government agent, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is depressed and nursing a drinking problem. She wants to retire to a desk job assisting her superior, CIA head Valentina de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), but Valentina gives Yelena one final job before switching positions: protect her weapons from being stolen by a rogue agent on the hunt for them.

Once at the hidden location, Yelena, John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen) and a random civilian named Robert Reynolds (Lewis Pullman), instantly realize they were all set up for a death trap to be quickly disposed by Valentina and her team.

Sebastian Stan returns as fan favorite Bucky Barnes, David Harbour co-stars as Alexei Shostakov and Yelena’s surrogate father, and Geraldine Viswanathan plays Valentina’s loyal assistant Mel. Thunderbolts was written by regular MCU screenwriter Eric Pearson, along with Joanna Calo.

With the exception of an end credits bonus scene, Thunderbolts operates pretty much in its own universe and doesn’t require any of the “homework” that MCU movies and shows have been criticized for. If you’re like me and have been MIA from the Marvel brand for a while, you won’t really be confused or miss anything going into this new feature blind.

While one might expect just another good vs. bad, hero vs. villain action blockbuster, it’s actually more like a two-hour therapy session for lower-tier superheroes, in an intriguing way. This could have easily been a less remarkable film depending on the cast, but fortunately everyone here makes an impression and stands out.

Russell is a good subversion of the typical wholesome, macho hero, Harbour is effective, bombastic comic relief, and Louis-Dreyfus fits right in with the high fantasy setting. But the most enjoyable aspects of Thunderbolts to me were the chemistry between Pugh and Pullman and Stan and Viswanathan, which actually made me want to see where those two pairings go in the future.

While I’m not sure average viewers will show much interest in Thunderbolts, those who used to be invested in the MCU or are still casual fans might want to check it out for something a bit different in the series.