Let’s be honest — when you hear the words new Marvel movie, your first reaction might be a groan.
After all, haven’t we been here before? Another flashy cast.
Another massive CGI showdown. Another overstuffed superhero plot.
But hold that eye-roll for just a minute — because Thunderbolts might just surprise you.
And we have Florence Pugh to thank for that.
Pugh Steps Into the Spotlight as Marvel’s New Power Player
For someone who hasn’t even hit 30, Florence Pugh has built one heck of a résumé.
From tortured period dramas (Lady Macbeth), to wrestling flicks (Fighting with My Family), to deep sci-fi (Dune: Part Two), she’s proven she can do it all.
But stepping back into her role as Yelena Belova — the snarky Russian assassin first seen in Black Widow — she just might be taking on her most crowd-pleasing role yet.
This time, Yelena isn’t just a supporting character trading wisecracks with Scarlett Johansson.
She’s front and center in Thunderbolts, and she owns every second of it.
Her dry humor, emotional depth, and unexpected charm help carry a movie that could’ve easily been just another generic Marvel entry.
A Superhero Comedy With Real Bite
Now, if you’re burnt out on superhero movies, you’re not alone — even critics are feeling the fatigue.
But Thunderbolts doesn’t just go through the motions.
Thanks to a refreshingly sharp script and a cast that seems to be having genuine fun, it actually finds new life in a very well-worn genre.
Pugh’s chemistry with David Harbour is a major reason why.
He returns as Alexei Shostakov, the washed-up Red Guardian who now runs a limo business and wears his broken dreams like a badge of honor.
When he reunites with his moody “daughter” Yelena, the sparks fly — and the laughs follow.
His line, “The light inside you is dim… even by Eastern European standards,” is a scene-stealer.
But Thunderbolts doesn’t rely solely on gags. Yelena’s internal struggle — including her mental health, her past trauma, and her present regrets — gives the film surprising emotional weight.
A Villain With Political Teeth and a Twisted Plan
In classic Marvel style, there’s a larger-than-life villain to contend with — this time in the form of CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played with delicious glee by Veep’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
She’s cunning, manipulative, and facing her own political scandal.
To clean up the mess, she sets a deadly trap for her old crew — the very Thunderbolts she once relied on.
This ragtag team includes returning characters like the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko).
Instead of turning on each other, they surprise everyone by teaming up — which throws a wrench into Valentina’s sinister plan. But, of course, she has a backup twist.
Let’s just say it involves Bob (Lewis Pullman) and a not-so-voluntary experiment that adds some unexpected tension.
It’s Wild, It’s Ridiculous — But It Works
Yes, it’s silly. Yes, the final act turns Manhattan into a familiar mess of destruction and slow-mo chaos.
But it’s done with flair, energy, and even a bit of heart.
Director Jake Schreier, along with writers Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo, find a clever balance between punchlines and pathos — something Marvel hasn’t always pulled off recently.
It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, but it’s smarter and more self-aware than most.
In the same way Guardians of the Galaxy brought freshness to space opera and Deadpool made meta-humor its superpower, Thunderbolts walks that fine line — without ever feeling forced.
So… Can This Film Shock Some Life Back Into Marvel?
Whether Thunderbolts is the film that finally turns Marvel’s recent slump around is still an open question.
That cheeky asterisk in the title almost feels like a wink at Marvel’s own uncertainty.
But one thing is for sure — Florence Pugh is the franchise’s best bet at winning audiences back.
Forget the superhero fatigue for a couple of hours and give this one a shot.
You might come away more entertained — and more hopeful for Marvel’s future — than you expected.
