The Wasteland Reviewer

Thunderbolts* (2025) Written Review

Are you still on the Marvel train? The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an enormous money-making machine and has delivered some of the most beloved films of the past 15 years. You have a film like Avengers: Endgame that was not just a cultural moment but is also the second highest grossing film in the history of cinema. Since then, the road has been a bit rocky. There has been an over-reliance on quantity and exponentially expanding the story many know and love. Films feel more artificial and less like films with directorial voices. This leaves you wondering what character(s) could bring some of that life back to the franchise and offer up a new adventure along the way. You probably would never guess that Marvel could lean on the not evacuation of deep space elements and putting the ball in the court of Thunderbolts*. 

Does the story in Thunderbolts* offer something fresh and impactful along the way? Refreshingly focused and centralizes, Thunderbolts* is about this group and their greatest context in this Marvel world. This is a ragtag crew of anti-heroes and underachievers who are thrusted into a dangerous situation where they are forced to show their gumption. But this is not an easy path. The members of this team struggle with addition, depression, and an emptiness (or a “Void”…if you will) that adds depth and meaning to this journey. At the core of the film, the story is about Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (and her assistant, Geraldine Viswanathan’s Mel) cleaning up loose ends including Valentina’s crew of assassins. Unfortunately, that puts our protagonists into a precarious situation that shows actual weight and danger from the initial confrontation. A mysterious man, Lewis Pullman’s Bob, is unearthed and brings this new team of Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, the Winter Soldier, US Agent, and Ghost together to stop Valentina’s nefarious mission. This film takes place over about two days and moves along at a brisk pace. The journey that brings these otherwise antisocial characters together as a team is entertaining and poignant. Watching them come together, filling their voids, and tackling serious danger and internal conflicts makes for a fresh and interesting comic book film. The finale is one of the freshest and most unique in the MCU which is a great feeling as well. 

How does this talented crew of filmmakers bring this new Marvel adventure to life? Director Jake Schreier channels his darker edge work on Beef with its uncomfortable conflict and channels that perfectly into Thunderbolts*. There is plenty of tension along the way between all these characters and each of them brings some unexpected emotion along the way. Schreier strikes the perfect tone for a story about characters like this. There are creative manifestations of haunting memories created through tangible production design and dark atmosphere. The film, in general, leans on tangible settings which makes this stand out in the CGI backdrops of so many big blockbusters today. You feel this the most in the climactic battle inside a strange internal place that has crafty and unnerving production design. The action is quite impressive as well with its in-camera choreography and slick stunt work. There are some dynamic moments which include an overhead highway fight and the initial conflict between this crew of assigns. There is plenty of emotion along the way but there is strong humor as well that feels rooted in character and not forced. The music from Son Lux works well at combining more traditional comic book scores with something that is a bit edgier and artful. Thunderbolts* has plenty of vibes and craft that make this so engrossing. 

What really ties this film together? This impressive cast. Florence Pugh is a true star and impressive performer who brings plenty of depth and charisma at the core of the film. Pugh’s Yelena is sharp, clever, and empathetic, who is both a badass but also vulnerable. Pugh sells the struggle expertly and slowly brings the light back into the eye of her character as she builds connections again. Her dynamic with Bob (Sentry/The Void) is one of the best elements of the film. Pullman balances humor, awkwardness, and trauma behind his vulnerable smile and affect. The connection between these two lost souls brings plenty of emotion and depth to the film. Louis-Dreyfus is nefarious and hilarious with even a few moments of emotional depths. David Harbour is the perfect comic relief presence in the film but also has some moving moments with Pugh as well. Wyatt Russell’s John Walker is a nice standout as well with Russell delivering a strong mixture of humor and insecurity. Hannah John-Kamen is charismatic and makes the most of the limited material Ghost gets to work with (but her powers are cool). Oleg Kurylenko is heavily under-utilized as Taskmaster and is basically fed to plot needs. Then there is the curious case of Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes. He gets a lot more to do in the first half of the film, but he feels a lot less interesting once the team really comes together. 

Is Thunderbolts* a success at the end of Marvel’s Phase Five? This is a refreshing film that stands out well amongst the last five years of Marvel projects. Strong action. Tangible world building. Strong score. An impressive ensemble led by the always incredible Pugh. This film is a big win from a quality perspective but soars even further thanks to unexpected depth and meaning in a film about a bunch of “losers”.