By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Amid a wave of superhero fatigue
"Thunderbolts," from director
Jake Schreier (TV's "Beef," and "Skeleton Crew"), stands out as a sharp, fun, and edgy character-driven entry in the Marvel universe.
"Thunderbolts" centers on a ragtag group of misfits and antiheroes who lack much of the polish, powers, or swagger of their more famous superhero counterparts. But what they lack in traditional heroics, they make up for with emotional depth and relatable struggles, making it easy to root for their success.
Florence Pugh ("Dune: Part Two") leads the charge as Yelena Belova, a fierce but conflicted fighter/assassin grappling with the loss of her adopted sister and a growing disillusionment with her life's direction. She's searching for something more meaningful and is becoming tired of taking orders from CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (a sensational Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Tuesday," and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever").
Meanwhile, Valentina is fending off an impeachment inquiry led by Congressman Gary (the always-excellent Wendell Pierce, TV’s "Elsbeth"), who is determined to expose her for unethical experiments involving human serum trials. To cover her tracks and eliminate any loose ends, she assembles a team of trained operatives.
Among them is John Walker (Wyatt Russell, "You're Cordially Invited"), a former U.S. Army Ranger once handpicked to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America before his fall from grace and other-than-honorable discharge. Ava Starr, aka Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen, "Breaking Point"), can phase through solid matter, while Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko, "Extraction II") mimics any fighting style with uncanny precision. Then there's Bob, aka Sentry or Void (Lewis Pullman, "Salem's Lot"), a mysterious powerhouse with amnesia and a dark alter ego capable of spreading literal darkness and turning people into shadows.
But Valentina has ulterior motives. She is setting them all up. It falls to Congressman Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan, "The Apprentice") and Yelena’s father figure, Alexei Shostakov, aka Red Guardian (a scene-stealing David Harbour, "A Working Man"), to rally the group and take down the corrupt forces after them. They form an uneasy alliance under a new banner: the Thunderbolts, named, humorously enough, after Yelena's childhood soccer team.
The Thunderbolts don't quite stick the landing at first, but when chaos erupts across New York City, the team rises to the occasion, ultimately rescuing those in danger and earning public praise for their bravery and determination.
It's nice to see a movie showcase such a well-developed ensemble, where every character feels fully realized. Credit screenwriters Eric Pearson ("The Fantastic Four: First Steps"), Joanna Calo (TV's "The Bear"), and Kurt Busiek ("Astro City") for that impressive balancing act.
"Thunderbolts" isn't just about saving the world, it's about redemption, second chances, and finding where you belong and that's what makes this action comedy so refreshing and enjoyable.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"THUNDERBOLTS"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of The Critics Choice Association (CCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
