Thunderbolts review: A terrific MCU throwback that will make you fall in love with Marvel again

If you’re feeling disenchanted with the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to the complexity of the Multiverse Storyline, *Thunderbolts* might be the film that rekindles your interest.

Phase 5 in the movie universe concludes, and if we consider only the full-length films, it’s reasonable to say that so far, The Multiverse Saga bears some resemblance to the initial three Phases, or the Infinity Saga, of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

There have been some great movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, but also some disappointing ones such as Captain America: Brave New World and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. However, many of them fall into the category of being ‘just okay’ productions, such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Black Widow.

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Nowadays, it’s becoming increasingly challenging for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) enthusiasts to fully embrace a fresh movie or series, as they seem to fit within the broader MCU framework. The absence of clear direction doesn’t make things easier; end-credit scenes often lead nowhere and characters are frequently introduced only to vanish without a trace.

Like we said, messy is the best way to describe it.

However, “Thunderbolts” seems reminiscent of the MCU’s classic style in a delightful manner, focusing more on its characters and unique narrative rather than broader issues. Similar to James Gunn with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”, director Jake Schreier has successfully left his own mark on it.

Additionally, “Thunderbolts” is incredibly enjoyable too – even though they appear rather grumpy in the picture beneath.

In typical Marvel Cinatic Universe (MCU) fashion, if you’ve seen the trailers or explored fan speculations, you’ll have a general idea of how Thunderbolts unfolds. However, what makes this movie commendable is that even the twists, including the one marked with an asterisk, aren’t major surprises. Instead, the film manages to be engaging regardless.

In the film, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) are forced to join forces when they discover a deadly trap created by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Her intention is to resolve unfinished business.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including the Guardians of the Galaxy, their unconventional alliance isn’t surprising, yet what sets it apart is the exceptional acting of the cast. Despite their inevitable cooperation, watching them squabble and hurl barbs at each other adds to the pleasure. Moreover, their creative solution for escaping a deep underground predicament makes the spectacle even more intriguing.

By incorporating Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stan, and Bob, portrayed by Lewis Pullman, the cast becomes as formidable as that in the Guardians films. In terms of tone, Thunderbolts is most similar to them. Florence Pugh plays a pivotal role, serving as the main character, and her emotional journey is particularly profound. Each character gets their own significant moment (with the exception of one, and you may have guessed why).

As a gamer, I’d say another Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that pops into my head is “Captain America: Civil War.” It’s not just the internal strife within the main team that resonates, but also the surprising shift from Jake Schreier in the finale. Instead of another city being leveled by a massive showdown, he steers us towards a more subtle, inventive sequence that prioritizes emotional depth over destructive grandeur.

Enthusiasts eager for cinematic thrills are not disappointed, with standout scenes such as an impressive initial action sequence featuring the highly anticipated practical stunt by Florence Pugh, and a breathtaking single-take scene depicting the Thunderbolts struggling against a previously unseen adversary (to maintain spoiler-free discussion).

Instead, the film focuses more on delving into the complex personalities and psychological aspects of its characters. Thunderbolts, while not offering the most profound portrayal of depression, is commendable for tackling such themes within a typical summer action movie.

The film offers an emotional intensity in the Thunderbolts team-up that may surprise you, considering it’s about a group often seen as misfits. Remarkably, you form a stronger bond with the movie itself, rather than the broader universe setup (until the climax and end credits), which adds to the unexpectedness.

Although it strives for independence within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie somewhat suffers from the influence of the larger universe. If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that there’s not much suspense because you’re aware these characters will reappear in Avengers: Doomsday, and the supposed surprise has been hinted at through marketing.

While many Marvel Cinematic Universe films and series might share similarities, that doesn’t diminish the annoyance when high stakes could have been genuinely present in this particular story. Given the narrative centered around complex antiheroes who could’ve had a future, it’s disappointing that the creators didn’t take advantage of this potential to make the consequences more impactful.

However, it’s not a significant problem that would cause the entire film to veer off course or prevent Thunderbolts from standing as one of the top films in The Multiverse Saga so far.

Thunderbolts* is released in UK cinemas on 1 May and in US cinemas on 2 May.

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2025-04-29 19:49