Do you need therapy? Or just to see Thunderbolts*? 

A few weeks delay, the Conservative Critic was finally able to see the new Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installment, Thunderbolts*. The movie released May 2 to rave reviews and box office success. 

This review will not be entirely spoiler-free free so proceed with caution.

The Conservative Critic asks: Is it entertaining? Does it have artistic/intellectual value? Is it liberal propaganda? 

Conservative Critic Meter Check: Thunderbolts* 

Overall Rating: Good* for an allegory

Thunderbolts* follows Yelena Belova played by Florence Pugh who is struggling to find meaning in her life when she is thrust together with a team of misfits not unlike herself including disgraced former Captain America and super soldier, John Walker played by Wyatt Russell, Ava ‘Ghost’ Starr played by Hannah John-Kamen, Alexei ‘ Red Guardian’ Shostakov played by David Harbour and Bob played by Lewis Pullman. The rag tag team is sucked into a political plot which pits Valentina Allegra De Fontaine played by Julie Louis-Dreyfus against Bucky ‘Winter Soldier’ Barnes played by Sebastian Stan who is now a United States Congressman (serving in Hakeem Jeffries current district – Brooklyn). 

The movie serves as an allegory for depression and as an allegory for depression, it’s very exciting and fun. For an MCU movie, it’s better than a lot that have been put out recently. More in the vein of Black Widow and stealing a little from Wandavision (also an allegory but for grief), Thunderbolts* takes itself a little more seriously but still has a lot of fun. That being said, the material is fairly on the nose. There is not much left for interpretation or nuance, and almost every significant emotional moment is explained to the audience, which cheapens the overall effect. 

Overall its an entertaining MCU installment that is better than the last several they’ve released and worth seeing even if waiting for streaming.

Is it entertaining? 

Rating: Great pacing* for an allegory

The best part of the movie is how well it is paced. The story doesn’t take on more than it can chew, and only has the not-so-super team of misfit toys taking on a relatively manageable crisis within a limited time period. Because of this, the story moves quickly and has plenty of balance between humor, heart and action. If anything, it could do with a bit more action sequences. 

Does it have artistic/intellectual value? 

Rating: Strong performances, interesting composition* for an allegory 

The performances are also strong. The cast is heavy on nepotism with Russell being the child of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell (brother of Kate Hudson) and Pullman the child of Bill Pullman and director Tamara Hurwitz but that doesn’t mean they don’t pull their weight. The cast chemistry is spot on particularly between Russell, Pullman and Pugh. 

The script was heavy-handed. Where it was very clear to audiences what was happening, particularly Pugh’s character, narrated a lot of the themes. Audiences are smart. They don’t need to be told that Pugh is feeling lost. They don’t need to be told out loud that we’re not alone. Cause there are 10 characters on screen very much not alone. The movie could have trusted its audience a lot more. 

That being said, well acted, nice looking pyro and stunts, and interesting and pleasing cinematography especially for an MCU movie. 

Is it liberal propaganda? 

Rating: There are so many politics

I don’t know what propaganda Thunderbolts* was but it definitely was some. Normally when there is a lot of conflicting points of view, The Conservative Critic would rate it “Agenda Free.” But in this case that doesn’t seem adequate. 

On the one hand, the film is skeptical of the deep state. The primary villain is a corrupt deep state bureaucrat. It screams far right which Im positive Sebastian Stan – who played Donald Trump in The Apprentice would hate to realize. 

On the other hand, the message on depression was….muddled. And while a muddled message is not per se political in terms of party it is political in terms of societies actions. While the movie makes clear in a positive and moving way that we are not alone in the world and we can all find purpose, it fails to allow for any higher power. Biasedly, of course the Conservative Critic thinks Jesus Christ is the true path to joy. But even if the film wanted to stay away from traditional Christian values, it would be a better message to individuals experiencing depression to acknowledge purpose in a higher power or the idea of faith. The movie didn’t handle depression dangerously, but it also didn’t fundamentally understand its venom or the work required to be free of it. 

The conclusion was that purpose comes from service to one’s country, which truly can be either left or right wing, but it is a political message nonetheless.