⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Rated PG-13 | 126 minutes

Marvel has had a few stumbles of late, but the tide appears to be turning after witnessing the latest entry in the Cinematic Universe that finally brings some of the most-liked secondary characters together for an unlikely adventure.

The film opens with a spectacular stunt-filled IMAX sequence focused on Yelena Belova, played by the versatile Florence Pugh. Yelena, younger sister of Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and last seen in the Hawkeye television series on Disney+, leaps off a building while on a mission for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

If you’ve been with the MCU for a bit, you’ve no doubt seen the numerous post-credits scenes featuring Valentina, played with perfect wit by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. We last saw her in “The Falcon and Winter Soldier” series on Disney+ in 2021, so you’ll be forgiven if you need a refresher. But this is a role Julia was born to play!

When we catch up with her in “Thunderbolts*”, we find that Valentina is facing some Congressional heat from her role at the Central Intelligence Agency over a secretive program that Congress says she has been running in the dark (if only real government worked this way!). As you might expect, Valentina is incredulous and defiant towards these accusations.

Valentina has been slowly building a team in the background of unwitting second-hand heroes – and they unite not because of Valentina, but rather in spite of her. The way this plays out in the film gives us a rare moment of humanity that’s been somewhat missing in recent Marvel entries.

Because Valentina has some clean-up to do, she tasks her minions to go after each other resulting in a vistual feast featuring everyone from Yelena to former-Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell) to Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) to Ghost (Hanna John-Kamen) to eventually reaching now-Senator Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) to Red Guardian (David Harbour).

Since these castoffs may ultimately find themselves with a common enemy, they eventually decide to work together. Oh, and Bob. Bob’s here too (played by Lewis Pullman) and even he’s not sure why.

I mentioned heart and humanity are front-and-center in this Marvel film and that’s flanked by a lot of classic Marvel humor, much of which comes in the form of sharp lines from Yelena and Valentina alike, but also from the “thrilled-to-be-included” Red Guardian… much to Yelena’s chagrin.

It all comes together to make one of the most entertaining films in the Marvel Cinematic Unvierse of late. I was left with a feeling of joy and excitement I haven’t seen probably since “Deadpool vs. Wolverine” and even then, it felt like it had been a while. “Thunderbolts*” might be the right film at the right time.

You may be wondering what the significance of the asterisk at the end of the title is for. I surely was. I’ll just say this: you’ll find out in the film. It’s been bugging me. Usually, if there isn’t a foot-note tied to an asterisk, it’s used to redact information. Like everything else, Marvel loves its secrets!

“Thunderbolts*” feels like we’re building to something special… much like the feeling ahead of the previous “Avengers” films. These anti-Avengers might just prove their worth yet. Stay through the credits for two scenes that will have you saying WOAH.

*Oh, and because I hate dangling asterisks…make sure to see it in IMAX… many, many scenes were filmed specifically for the format (including the Marvel Studios logo!).