‘Thunderbolts*’ Debuts With Surprising Rotten Tomatoes Score
As the trailers from Thunderbolts* started rolling out, Marvel fans were worried. Not only because the studio has been dealing with its share of problems creativity-wise, but also because there was a risk that the superhero company was just trying to repeat the formula that worked so well for Guardians of the Galaxy. However, the first surprising reviews started coming in and now it is official: the new Marvel entry is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 87% score.
The score is pretty uplifting, because Marvel fans have been in dire need of a win. Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World managed to stand out box-office-wise and became one of the highest-grossing titles of the year with over $400 million raked in, but it still got a lukewarm reception. The movie earned a 48% score from critics, but audiences liked it significantly better and put it at 78%. Still, it wasn’t the kind of comeback that fans were hoping for the MCU. Now, it looks like the Thunderbolts* have done it.
In his review, Collider’s Ross Bonaime stated that “the MCU just saved itself” and that “Thunderbolts* goes back to the basics of what’s worked before.” He wrote:
“Thunderbolts* is a delicate balance of tone that director Jake Schreier handles quite well. This is digging deeper than most Marvel films attempt, yet it’s also a film with some of the most fun action scenes and comedic moments within this universe in years. Thunderbolts*, along with the best movies of the MCU, knows that character is king, story matters, and all the other superhero elements need to be built out of that.”
‘Thunderbolts*’ Is Wrapping Up MCU’s Phase Five On a High Note
Thunderbolts* features a slate of anti-heroes that have participated in several Marvel entries over the years. Now, the group of misfits bands together after Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) manages to trick them into going on a mission that would kill all of them. After surviving, they join forces to take down their former boss. The cast features Florence Pugh (Black Widow), Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Sebastian Stan (Avengers: Endgame), Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Olga Kurylenko (Black Widow) and David Harbour (Black Widow), as well as Lewis Pullman (Salem’s Lot) and Geraldine Viswanathan (Miracle Workers).
If the audience’s reception to Thunderbolts* matches or even surpasses critics’ positive impressions, we will inevitably get out hopes up for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is one of the most anticipated Marvel movies ever. However, there’s a difference in tone between the two movies. Aside from the obvious fact that Thunderbolts* is much darker and cynical than the optimistic F4, the former represents the end of a very long Phase Five in the overall Marvel Universe, and the latter kicks off Phase Six — a new era that will encompass the X-Men and the first Avengers movie in seven years.
Thunderbolts* is playing in movie theaters now.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
