As the trailers fromThunderbolts*started rolling out, Marvel fans were worried. Not only because the studio has been dealing with its share of problems creativity-wise, but also because there was a risk that the superhero company was just trying to repeat the formula that worked so well forGuardians of the Galaxy. However, the first surprising reviews started coming in, and now it is official: the new Marvel entry iscertified fresh onRotten Tomatoeswith an 87% score.
The score is pretty uplifting because Marvel fans have been in dire need of a win. Earlier this year,Captain America: Brave New Worldmanaged to stand out box-office-wise and became one of the highest-grossing titles of the year with over $400 million raked in, but it still got a lukewarm reception. The movie earned a 48% score from critics, butaudiences liked it significantly betterand put it at 78%. Still, it wasn’t the kind of comeback that fans were hoping for in the MCU. Now, it looks like theThunderbolts*have done it.
In his review, Collider’sRoss Bonaimestated that “the MCU just saved itself” and that “Thunderbolts*goes back to the basics of what’s worked before.” He wrote:
“Thunderboltsis a delicate balance of tone that director Jake Schreier handles quite well. This is digging deeper than most Marvel films attempt, yet it’s also a film with some of the most fun action scenes and comedic moments within this universe in years.Thunderbolts,along with the best movies of the MCU, knows that character is king, story matters, and all the other superhero elements need to be built out of that.”
‘Thunderbolts*’ Is Wrapping Up MCU’s Phase Five On a High Note
Thunderbolts*features a slate of anti-heroes that have participated inseveral Marvel entriesover the years. Now, the group of misfits bands together after Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) manages to trick them into going on a mission that would kill all of them. After surviving, they join forces to take down their former boss. The cast featuresFlorence Pugh(Black Widow),Hannah John-Kamen(Ant-Man and the Wasp),Sebastian Stan(Avengers: Endgame),Wyatt Russell(The Falcon and the Winter Soldier),Olga Kurylenko(Black Widow) andDavid Harbour(Black Widow), as well asLewis Pullman(Salem’s Lot) andGeraldine Viswanathan(Miracle Workers).
If the audience’s reception toThunderboltsmatches or even surpasses critics' positive impressions, we will inevitably get our hopes up forThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, which isone of the most anticipated Marvel movies ever. However, there’s a difference in tone between the two movies. Aside from the obvious fact thatThunderboltsis much darker and cynical than the optimisticF4, the former representsthe end of a very long Phase Fivein the overall Marvel Universe, and the latter kicks off Phase Six — a new era that will encompass theX-Menand thefirstAvengersmovie in seven years. So maybe audiences will be fine with the change of pace.
