Chante JVR

****✨

After a few rocky years, Thunderbolts* is the jolt the MCU needed—messy, moody, and unexpectedly moving. Director Jake Schreier assembles a team of antiheroes—Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell)—into a reluctant alliance orchestrated by the cunning Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Their mission: confront a deadly threat while grappling with their own haunted pasts.

What Works:

• Florence Pugh’s Performance: Pugh delivers a standout performance as Yelena Belova, blending charisma, emotional depth, and sharp wit.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina: Louis-Dreyfus brings a darkly humourous and manipulative edge to Valentina, making her one of the MCU’s most compelling villains since Thanos. She feels realistic.
• Chemistry: The chemistry between the characters is a real highlight—awkward, endearing, and occasionally explosive, it makes the ensemble work shine.
• Humour: In true Marvel fashion, there’s a fair amount of humour throughout – especially from David Harbour as Red Guardian. The humour is dry, biting, perfectly timed, and doesn’t undercut the emotional scenes as Marvel has been known to do lately.
• Tone and Direction: The film strikes a balance between gritty action and character-driven storytelling.
• Son Lux’s Score: The experimental band Son Lux, who also did Everything Everywhere All at Once, provides a haunting and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the film’s emotional beats.

What Doesn’t:

• Under-utilized Characters: Because it’s such a big team, some characters feel under-utilized or underdeveloped. I’m looking at you Bucky, John Walker, and Ghost.

Final Thoughts:

Thunderbolts* revitalizes the MCU with its ensemble of flawed heroes and a narrative that delves into themes of mental health, redemption and identity. While not without its imperfections, the film’s strong performances and bold direction make it a standout entry in the franchise.