Thunderbolts* (2025) Movie Review

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Thunderbolts* – Movie Review

First Reaction – Thunderbolts* is one of the best Marvel movies in years.

Director: Jake Schreier

Writer: Jake Schreier, Joanna Calo (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Florence Pugh (Midsommar)
  • Lewis Pullman (Outer Range)
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • Sebastian Stan (Captain American Brave new World)
  • Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp)
  • David Harbour (A Working Man)

Plot: When they’re caught in a deadly predicament, an unlikely band of non-hero characters are compelled to undertake a perilous journey, which will lead them to revisit the deepest secrets and shadows of their personal histories.

Runtime: 2 Hours 6 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

The Beginning of Thunderbolts: Yelena Belova (Pugh) begins to question her loyalty towards Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Louis-Dreyfus), her employer in the mercenary clean up work. She expresses a desire to leave this line of work behind and surprisingly, her request sets off a chain of unforeseen events. Yelena finds herself betrayed and allies with her father Alexei (Harbour), John Walker (Russell) and Ava Starr (John-Kamen).

A motley crew of hired guns intends to bring down Valentina and her lethal invention, Robert Reynolds (Pullman). Yet, the force released leads to more complications, and it’s the unexpected duo of Aline with Bucky (Stan) who step up to save New York City.

Verdict on Thunderbolts*

Recap

The film revolves around a group of soldiers-for-hire seeking a route towards redemption. Aware that they’ve made mistakes in the past, they wish to set things right. Yet, it’s their old commander who creates the most significant obstacle in their journey towards absolution.

Best Parts

As a fan, I must say that this film is packed with compelling elements, especially the opportunity given to previously deceased characters to seek redemption. This concept isn’t entirely new, as we’ve seen it play out with Loki and in DC’s Suicide Squad. These characters have much to prove and a fresh perspective on life.

The threat at hand takes us into uncharted territories, delving deep into the complexities of mental health and the struggle between good and bad days. It’s crucial to empathize with these extreme feelings, as they are part of what makes us human.

In terms of action, the film opts for a more restrained approach, which I appreciate as it maintains an air of containment. The visual effects for the main threat are downright terrifying, creating a bone-chilling atmosphere that could easily be mistaken for a horror movie.

Worst Parts

A significant issue arises because both Valentina and John Walker are relatively new to their prominent roles. We haven’t had much prior exposure to Valentina, mostly observing her from the sidelines, but suddenly she wields power. Similarly, John Walker is introduced sparingly, with only brief recaps providing insights about him.

Final Thoughts –Thunderbolts* is one of the best and most grounded movies in Marvel history.

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2025-05-01 19:37