Thunderbolts* is Marvel’s latest attempt at clawing out of an existential void

Marvel’s latest movie, Thunderbolts*, attempts to address the studio’s recent struggles with multiversal storytelling by focusing on a straightforward action flick.
The film dabbles in themes of grief and reflection, but its story is mostly predictable and lacks surprises.
Despite its familiar set pieces and twists, Thunderbolts* brings a refreshing change of pace due to its lean narrative and commitment to grounding the story.
The movie takes place almost immediately after Captain America: Brave New World and brings back several villains from previous MCU films.
Thunderbolts* is not a solution to all of the MCU’s recent woes, but it shows Marvel trying to reckon with its problems and find a new direction for its interconnected franchise.

Marvel’s movies have yet to stop being box office juggernauts, but in recent years focused on multiversal storytelling, the studio’s interconnected cinematic franchise has often felt adrift and unfocused. Rather than working as films that can stand on their own, the MCU’s recent crossover features have generally resulted in dangling threads, like they’re all just previews for the next big blockbuster.

Thunderbolts*, Marvel’s new movie from director Jake Schreier, is not a one-shot solution to all of the MCU’s recent woes, but in it, you can very plainly see the studio trying to reckon with the fact that things have gone a bit off the rails. Though its story dabbles in reflections about grief, it’s mostly a straightforward action flick. At times, Thunderbolts* – the asterisk is actually kind of important – almost plays like a Marvel feature from a decade ago in terms of how simply it unfolds. But even though its flashy set pieces are familiar and its twists are very predictable, its leanness and commitment to bringing things down to earth is a mildly refreshing change of pace.

Set almost immediately after Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* brings back a number of vil …

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Q. What is Marvel’s latest attempt at addressing its recent existential void?

A. Thunderbolts* is Marvel’s latest attempt at clawing out of an existential void.

Q. How has Marvel’s movies performed in terms of box office success recently?

A. Marvel’s movies have yet to stop being box office juggernauts, but their focus on multiversal storytelling has sometimes resulted in a sense of adrift and unfocus.

Q. What is the main issue with Marvel’s recent crossover features?

A. The MCU’s recent crossover features have generally resulted in dangling threads that feel like previews for the next big blockbuster.

Q. How does Thunderbolts* approach its story compared to other MCU movies?

A. Thunderbolts* dabbles in reflections about grief, but is mostly a straightforward action flick with a more streamlined and focused narrative.

Q. What sets Thunderbolts* apart from other Marvel features?

A. The asterisk (*) actually makes the title of the movie important, indicating that it’s not just another generic Marvel feature.

Q. How does Thunderbolts* compare to older Marvel movies in terms of its pacing and storytelling?

A. At times, Thunderbolts* almost plays like a Marvel feature from a decade ago in terms of how simply it unfolds.

Q. What is the tone of Thunderbolts* compared to other MCU movies?

A. The movie has a leanness and commitment to bringing things down to earth that is a mildly refreshing change of pace.

Q. When does the movie take place in relation to Captain America: Brave New World?

A. Set almost immediately after Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* brings back a number of villains from previous MCU movies.

Q. What can be said about the predictability of Thunderbolts*’ twists?

A. The movie’s twists are very predictable, but this is somewhat mitigated by its straightforward and action-oriented approach.