Thunderbolts* Review: A New Group of Unlikely Heroes

A new wave of the Marvel Universe is here with the premiere of Thunderbolts*. A group of antiheroes (Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker) have been entangled in a dangerous plot with a formidable foe. The group must overcome their aversion to working together and face the darkest parts of their past to take down the Void.

Check out our Thunderbolts* review below, and remember, spoilers ahead!

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Thunderbolts* Review – Breaking Down Plot, Setting, Characters

Plot

The main plot in the film is the Void against the Thunderbolts, but there is also the battle of fighting through mental anguish.

Each character has done bad things, and the Void brings all their worst memories to the forefront. It doesn’t help that the Void is really Bob (Sentry), whose troubling past and self-doubt have morphed into a terrifying villain who turns people into a shadow of themselves. The Thunderbolts can defeat the Void by battling their worst actions and supporting Bob.

I love that a Marvel movie delved into being alone and finding people who can help you through the darkest days towards a brighter future. It makes it even better that the “heroes” are the supposed rejects of the world, who want to help and eliminate collateral damage.

By saving several civilians and defeating the Void, the Thunderbolts become true heroes and are dubbed by Valentina as the “New Avengers.” They may not be like the OG team, but there is something undeniable about each of them fighting for what’s right.

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Setting

The setting varies throughout the movie, with the main ones being Washington D.C., New York City, and a covert O.X.E. facility in the middle of nowhere. Each setting highlights the characters in different ways.

For instance, Washington D.C. brings to light Valentina’s transgressions and possible expulsion from her position as the head of the CIA. Bucky also appears here in his new life as a Congressman, set on getting the evidence needed to remove Valentina.

The covert O.X.E. facility, on the other hand, shows the antihero in all its glory as Yelena, John, Ghost, and Taskmaster fight tooth and nail against each other. It’s the beginning of their relationship, and forces them to work together when death seems imminent.

Finally, New York City. The “Watchtower” is revealed, which some fans may remember as the old Avengers tower. Plus, the Thunderbolts have come together to save Bob, meeting the super-powered Sentry instead. When the Sentry turns into the Void, the Thunderbolts don their superhero personas and save New York City as it is overtaken by a black shadow.

The setting always feels gritty, no matter where the characters are. Each place holds a balance of light and dark, hero and villain, which can be pushed one way or another quite easily.

My favorite setting was the old Avengers building, but watching the antiheroes fighting in a secret subterranean compartment was also very entertaining.

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Characters

The characters in Thunderbolts* are truly what make the film fantastic. Each one is struggling with their own demons, and must push through them to save each other. It’s a film that highlights the mental anguish and depression that plagues so many people in the world, and tells them all that they are “not alone.” There is a way back from the darkness, and you can find that with people who care and support you even in your darkest moments.

On that note, I think Yelena and Bob were my favorite characters. While the others had strengths (like Bucky’s superhero moment on the motorbike), I feel like we got to see the depth and trauma hidden behind Yelena and Bob’s façade.

Yelena has never felt more alone, and doesn’t see a point in anything, while Bob has been riddled by the idea of not being good enough and just being a waste of space. The two come together in several moments to solidify their connection as almost brother and sister, which ends up saving Bob from the Void in the end.

While superheroes are the ideal people we want to become, the antihero shows that not all heroes are good, and that’s okay.

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Prominent Actors in Thunderbolts*

The cast of Thunderbolts* is full of star-studded actors who have appeared in several hit films and TV series. Check out some of the main stars below:

• Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova) – Little Women, Black Widow, We Live in Time
• Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes) – The Apprentice, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Fresh
• Lewis Pullman (Robert “Bob” Reynolds) – Salem’s Lot, Top Gun: Maverick, Lessons in Chemistry
• Geraldine Viswanathan (Mel) – Drive-Away Dolls, You’re Cordially Invited, Miracle Workers
• Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent) – The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Night Swim, 22 Jump Street
• David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov) – Stranger Things, Black Widow, Violent Night
• Olga Kurylenko (Antonia Dreykov) – Oblivion, Hitman, Momentum
• Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr) – Ant-Man and the Wasp, Game of Thrones, Ready Player One
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra De Fontaine) – Seinfeld, You Hurt My Feelings, Veep

Thunderbolts* Review: Final Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed Thunderbolts* from beginning to end. It’s one of the better Marvel movies in a long time (other than Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), providing a darker side to the Marvel Universe that was needed. This message of not being alone has impacted viewers tremendously, which does not even include the representation of mental illness.

There is something viscerally human about this film, and it gives hope for the future installments of not only the New Avengers but the Marvel Entertainment world as a whole.