By DANIAL FUAD

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) just concluded its fifth phase with the release of Thunderbolts* last week. Set after the events of Captain America: Brave New World, this latest instalments in the MCU explores the reluctant hero archetype. Directed by Jake Schreier, the movie tells the story of a ragtag group of anti-heroes who attempt to fill the void left by the Avengers while grappling with their own inner darkness.

While the film takes its name from the comic books, the asterisk might suggest that this isn’t the Thunderbolts that comic book readers know and love. It only carries over the spirit of the comic, where the group was formed after the death of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes at the hands of Onslaught. Instead of Baron Helmut Zemo leading the team as in the comics, the Thunderbolts* are led by Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), the successor to the Black Widow mantle. She does the dirty work for Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, who has assembled a collection of rejected individuals. This includes U.S. Agent, John Walker (Wyatt Russel), Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko) as Taskmaster, and the former S.H.I.E.L.D operative turned criminal, Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kammen), also known as Ghost, to carry out her cleanup operations. 

The film focuses on them teaming up after they discover that De Fontaine set them up for disposal due to her impeachment as the Director of the CIA. They are also joined by Red Guardian, who is Yelena’s adoptive father, Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), and the newly elected congressman, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), to uncover a larger conspiracy involving a powerful and unstable individual known as Bob.  Although their trust in each other is initially skin deep, they band together because of their shared trauma inflicted by De Fontaine. As they navigate this dangerous mission, the team members are forced to confront their troubled pasts and grapple with questions of redemption and purpose.   

One of the interesting aspects of the film is that, instead of featuring characters with overpowered abilities akin to gods, these heroes are portrayed as essentially normal people with enhanced abilities.  They are all battling their inner demons, which makes them believe they are incapable of being heroes. However, circumstances require them to step up and save the day.

Thunderbolts* explores themes of redemption and the lasting consequences of trauma.  This can be seen as a breath of fresh air for the MCU, but it doesn’t represent a game-changer for the superhero movie genre. In other sense, the film follows the familiar template of a group coming together to fight a major antagonist; this time, however, the antagonist is different and can’t be defeated with punches. It feels like this film is setting the stage for the MCU to move into its next phase, which begins with another reboot of the Fantastic Four this July. 

While it includes the typical humour and pop culture references found in all Marvel movies, the somewhat weak connection between the audience and the protagonists may make it difficult for the audience to empathize with them. 

As expected from a typical Marvel movie, the action sequences are quite spectacular. The fight scenes are well-choreographed, such as the encounter between Ghost, Bob, Yelena, and U.S. Agent against the O.X.E. strike team. The action scenes are well-orchestrated but don’t quite reach the level of being edge-of-your-seat thrilling.

One of the genuinely interesting elements is the incorporation of Malaysia into the movie. The film opens with Yelena standing atop the tallest tower in Malaysia, PNB118, for a base-jumping scene. Malaysia isn’t just a backdrop for a single scene; it’s woven into the plot, making it a proud moment for Malaysians.   

In conclusion, Thunderbolts* delivers a fresh perspective within the MCU by focusing on themes of redemption and the impact of trauma.  However, it doesn’t revolutionize the superhero genre. While it adheres to the familiar Marvel formula and features impressive action sequences, its strength lies in exploring the more human side of its heroes.

Catch Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* currently out in major cinemas near you.

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