FILM REVIEW: Thunderbolts*

Marvel-ous

“I am Iron Man.” There was no better feeling in 2008 than walking out of Iron Man after that last line and post-credits scene. Something was happening. There was no way my early-teen self knew just how big the Marvel Studios Machine was going to be, but there was a buzz. Walking out of Thunderbolts*, the feeling sparked again. It was not fleeting nor filled with nostalgia for the past, but a sense that a good long-term story is finally upon us. If this is the direction Summer 2025 is going to go at the movies, then buckle up. The movies are about to surprise *us (*not me) all.

Anchored by very strong Florence Pugh and David Harbour performances, this film finally gives us reason to root not only for these great characters, but Marvel Studios. I hesitate to say “We are so back!”, but maybe “We have genuine hope.” I am riding that mantra into July’s Fantastic 4. What makes this worth it? Understanding the great characters, utilizing them properly, and providing great emotional depth. Seems pretty simple, but Marvel has not been doing a great job with recent outings (looking at you, Brave New World and the Battle at Parking Lot). We also have great villains that are believably complex and add to the story not just in the short-term but also long-term! Huzzah!

To start, Yelena Belova (Pugh) finds herself lonely and without purpose. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia-Louis Dreyfus, in delicious Selina Meyer-esque mode) gives her one last opportunity for purpose. Some twists and turns happen, allowing freshman Congressman Bucky Barnes, Alexi Shoshtakov (Harbour), former Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen) to join forces to create the Thunderbolts. The film brings these characters back without bogging us with exposition/reminders of who they are. If you know, you know. If you don’t, that is fine too. Refreshing already.

The film takes a surprisingly serious turn into mental health and the need for belonging. It does a nice job of navigating these important subjects without feeling heavy-handed. It is all character-driven and these characters are some of the best out of Marvel in at least 5 years. By the end, we are cheering for their success because of who they are, not for what they could be. The creative team understood the assignment. Some of the dialogue is a bit on-the-nose with its exposition, but the emotional moments capture what ends up being an extremely fun ride. That is the key to its success.

Everything on the production side falls into typical Marvel Studios territory. One sequence of note is the final battle sequence in the different rooms. That was surprising and a really nice way to end the action for this story. Again, character-driven without being giving a lecture. The film earns its emotions.

Now that I think about it, Marvel Studios has not really earned as much emotion in their film department. Each offering has only felt like a surface-level story to satisfy customers for box office success. No more, no less. We finally get a glimpse of the possibilities to come. Now they have to deliver. “I think they are making separate movies then combining all the characters into one big movie.” I said something like this to my mom in 2008 after Iron Man. I was so excited to be included in the process of assembling the Avengers. Now, over 15 years later it seems like Marvel is finally letting us back in the process. Fingers crossed all goes well.