Thunderbolts* lacks a jolt of electricity

Thunderbolts* is the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Walt Disney Studios continues to ride the rollercoaster until the wheels fall off. To add electricity and reinvigorate the longtime franchise, the filmmakers focused on the human aspects of the characters while adding in humor when possible. The creators decided to feature less on the individual's superpower and more on physical hand-to-hand combat for a realistic atmosphere.

The story follows reluctant antiheroes who have appeared in past films and combines them to form a team at the end of phase five. Instead of being inspired by the original Thunderbolts comic book, where villains disguise themselves as heroes, the creators head in a decidedly different direction. They keep to the DC Suicide Squad's model instead, with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as the pesky leader, similar to Amanda Waller. A few years ago, a new version of the Thunderbolts comic was created and reflected this flick with White Widow, Red Guardian and U.S. Agent as members.

From the jump, Florence Pugh delivers a moody monologue and dives into the air with gusto. It's a slow start to a movie with a bold title and she carries much of the action on her shoulders as Yelena Belova, the White Widow. She is joined by David Harbour as Alexie Shostakov U.S. Agent/John Walker, played by Wyatt Russell, who comes off as a combination of resembling his father with jokester Paul Rudd.

Sebastian Stan is Bucky Barnes once again and Hannah John-Kamen haunts as Ava Starr/Ghost. With this many names to keep up with, some spectators might need a scorecard. The good news is that Thunderbolts* doesn't require the amount of homework that some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe did.

The concept is simple: after the death of the Avengers, the world needs new champions to fight evil and a group rises to the occasion. The costumed characters need some spicing up, like possibly adding the Red Hulk from Brave New World to the mix.

None of this replacement team has the power set or strength to battle someone such as Sentry. The unhinged dude has a split personality known as The Void and goes places only the shadow knows when the mood hits him to cause chaos. His mental health is a concern and that fact is well played by Lewis Pullman, known as Bob Reynolds. What about Bob? Well, Disney has used up of the special effects money on him and left the assembled heroes out in the Russian cold.

What's left is a mediocre Marvel movie with a few moments of magic. There are flashbacks and dream sequences accompanied by stellar cinematography.

The writers should have kept their eyes on their own paper have missed an opportunity to bring back previous baddies for redemption. This leaves some ideas half-baked when it was time to turn up the heat.

While Thunderbolts* isn't all that and a box of Wheaties, the cast is a breakfast of champions with Pugh as the leader. Stay tuned, true believers, as this motley crew rocks on to further adventures in the MCU.