So, I Saw Thunderbolts: Did It Really Live Up to the Hype?

I’m a Marvel tragic, have been since Iron Man first hit screens. I’ve sat through the highs (Endgame!) and, let's be honest, some definite lows in recent years. So, when Thunderbolts* rolled around, heralded by some surprisingly glowing early reviews calling it "top-tier Marvel" and the “best in years” my interest was piqued, but maybe with a healthy dose of MCU fatigue setting in. Could another team-up, especially one featuring the B-team antiheroes, really hit the mark? I went in hopeful, maybe a little wary, and just got back from the cinema.

Right off the bat, let’s talk about Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. She absolutely is the heart of this movie, just as everyone is saying. Pugh has this incredible ability to balance Yelena’s deep-seated trauma and cynical wit with a vulnerability that just grounds the whole thing. The film apparently wants to tackle mental health head-on, which is admirable for a blockbuster of this scale, and Yelena’s journey, particularly her relationship with David Harbour equally excellent Red Guardian, carries most of that weight. It mostly works, feeling raw and honest, though sometimes the dialogue spelling out the themes felt a bit… loud. But Pugh sells every moment. She’s the reason you care.

Where I felt a bit more mixed was the team dynamic itself. We’ve got Yelena, Red Guardian, Sebastian Stan Bucky Barnes (brooding as ever, maybe the de facto leader?), Wyatt Russell John Walker/US Agent (still infuriatingly arrogant, which I guess is the point?), Hannah John-Kamen Ghost, and Olga Kurylenko Taskmaster. Oh, and Lewis Pullman as Sentry/Bob, who kind of steals scenes as the powerhouse with a dark secret (the Void). The “misfits forced together” plot, orchestrated by Julia Louis-Dreyfus slippery Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (who, predictably, sets them up), feels… familiar. While the chemistry is definitely there, especially between Pugh, Harbour, and Stan, some characters inevitably feel shortchanged. Ghost and Taskmaster, despite being crucial to the plot, felt more like accessories than fully fleshed-out members. It’s Yelena’s show, with Bucky and Alexei as strong supporting players, and the others filling out the roster.

Director Jake Schreier, coming off things like Beef, definitely brings a different flavour. You can feel the attempt to make something more character-driven, more textured. The action sequences, often favouring practical effects and clarity over CGI chaos, were genuinely refreshing. There’s a grittiness here, an emotional weight that recent MCU outings have often lacked. Schreier isn’t afraid to let moments sit, to focus on the internal struggles. But did it always feel cohesive? Not quite. The tonal shifts between wry humour, heavy trauma exploration, and standard superheroics sometimes felt jarring. And the big reveal behind the title’s asterisk – that Val introduces them as the “New Avengers” – felt less like a clever twist and more like MCU branding mechanics kicking in.

Overall, am I glad I watched Thunderbolts*? Absolutely. It’s a definite step up, with stellar performances (Pugh is MVP) and a welcome focus on character over cosmos-ending stakes. It does feel closer to the ‘Infinity era MCU’ focus that many have missed. But is it the game-changing masterpiece some early reactions proclaimed? For me, not quite. It’s hampered slightly by a familiar setup and uneven character focus. It’s good, maybe even great in moments, particularly when Pugh is on screen. I’m not sure this is one I’ll be rushing to revisit. Still, it’s a solid, emotionally resonant film that proves there’s life in the old MCU yet, even if it’s a bit bruised.