The next article comprises some pretty hefty SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*. Should you’ve but to observe the new 2025 film, please take a step again and return when you’re all caught up with the MCU timeline.
Like a big portion of the moviegoing inhabitants, I had some MCU fatigue heading into Thunderbolts*’ opening weekend, which is one thing I didn’t assume I’d ever say. Nevertheless, after giving the critically-acclaimed comedian e-book adaptation, I’ve to confess that I used to be pleasantly stunned by the story, characters, motion and comedy in what has turn out to be one of many finest Marvel films in a number of years. However that wasn’t the one shock…
Heading into the film, I had a sense Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova could be the guts and soul of Thunderbolts*, which she is. However on high of that, there’s one other show-stealing character that shouldn’t be neglected when discussing the film. Contemplating it is a character who was completely despised once they have been launched a number of years in the past, this made an already nice expertise into an exhilarating and fulfilling journey.
Yelena Belova Is The Emotional Core Of The Thunderbolts* And At The Heart Of The Film’s Greatest Scenes
Although Thunderbolts* may be very a lot a staff film in the identical vein as Guardians of the Galaxy or the assorted Avengers films, Yelena Belova is the emotional core of this excellent MCU movie and its near-perfect stability of humor, coronary heart and motion (it does all three very effectively). She’s the primary main character we meet within the film, we observe her all through a lot of it, and she or he’s on the heart of the Thunderbolts* ending.
One of the vital attention-grabbing characters launched to the MCU within the post-Endgame stage of the franchise, Yelena has all the abilities you’d need in a hero, but additionally all of the angst, fears and self-deprecating humor that forestall her from coming off as the proper heroine. Yeah, she kicks numerous butt up and down the film’s two-hour runtime, however she additionally gives a lot of the emotional weight and carries it round as she’s making an attempt to determine her life.
However I Saved Discovering Myself Extra And Extra Invested In John Walker’s Story
This isn’t taking something away from Yelena Belova, or every other member of the Thunderbolts within the film, however I couldn’t cease gravitating in the direction of Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, a.ok.a. “State-sponsored Captain America,” a.ok.a. U.S. Agent, as quickly as he confirmed up within the hard-hitting and unforgettable vault sequence. The wise-cracking, heelish and unhinged tremendous soldier introduced loads to the entire motion set piece (and others that adopted), however there was one second that actually began to make me see him from a unique viewpoint.
That occurred when he got here in touch with Lewis Pullman’s Bob and was transported again in time to one in all his worst recollections and largest failures; not on the battlefield or the second from Falcon and the Winter Soldier the place he used his defend to brutally homicide somebody, however again residence when he was unable to recover from his public notion and be father.
His Transformation From A Villain In Falcon And The Winter Soldier To A Hero In Thunderbolts* Was So Fulfilling
Many of the primary characters in Thunderbolts* have been villains (or no less than very dangerous anti-heroes) at one level of their lives, and that’s very a lot the case for John Walker. As I discussed simply above, he brutally killed a person in chilly blood together with his defend in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in entrance of shocked and terrified civilians. That mentioned, I didn’t assume the man would ever be capable to redeem himself or no less than try to make up for his darkish previous. Whereas he doesn’t utterly repair the whole lot by the point that massive post-credits scene rolls round, his transformation has began.
That journey was actually one of the emotional, fulfilling and fun-to-watch facets of Thunderbolts*, and this standout member of the New Avengers (little hat and all) is completely on his approach to turning into one of the best model of himself; one that may be celebrated with out getting all caught up in his troubled previous.
The Imaginative and prescient The place He is Transported Again To His Son’s Room Was So Heartbreaking
Thunderbolts* featured a number of darkish, ominous, and distressing visions each time numerous characters got here in touch with Bob, however the one I preserve going again to is John Walker’s reminiscence of being a nasty, or no less than distracted, father. Walker sitting there, buried in his telephone studying headlines about his fall from grace whereas his son begs and cries for even the slightest quantity of consideration was so painful, heartbreaking and actual. In a film the place the villain is an unstable tremendous soldier who transports everybody to a labyrinth of disgrace rooms, this little bit of grounding went a good distance.
It’s an extremely temporary scene, but I’m nonetheless feeling the impression of it hours after leaving the theater (I’m certain will probably be days or probably weeks earlier than I totally shake it), and that’s not one thing I count on to expertise with a comic book e-book film a few ragtag group of former villains who turn out to be the brand new Avengers.
And I Really feel Like I am Obligated To Give Wyatt Russell Reward For His Comedic Timing In Thunderbolts
But it surely isn’t all simply gloom and doom with John Walker in Thunderbolts*, as he’s actually one of many funniest Marvel characters in a while. The vault battle scene, the place he and the remainder of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) misfit toys are despatched to kill one another so the CIA director can keep away from being impeached and indicted, options some outrageously humorous U.S. Agent moments. His refusal to place others earlier than himself, his confusion about who was despatched to kill whom, and the whole lot else about him in his sequence is top-notch comedy.
I assume I shouldn’t be all that stunned contemplating Wyatt Russell is the son of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, so comedy just about comes naturally to his second-generation star. Possibly that explains that goofy smile on his face when he’s sporting that absurd hat on the very finish of the film, which I guess we’ll be seeing much more of when Avengers: Doomsday comes out subsequent yr.
So with Thunderbolts* utterly altering the way in which I take into consideration John Walker in spite of everything these years, I can not wait to see how the character continues to evolve within the very close to future.