Thunder Force is a superhero/comedy about a world where an event has triggered superpowers in individuals, mainly sociopaths, termed Miscreants, and estranged childhood friends Lydia(Melissa McCarthy) and Emily(Octavia Spencer) reunite, and through Emily's lifelong research develop superpowers to fight the Miscreant scourge.
McCarthy's star-wattage is on full display, the character is imperfect but determined, funny but tough and her chemistry with Spencer is excellent. Spencer has the more introverted role but still her presence shines through. On the surface this is mostly a good-time-action-comedy but both leads have grapple with emotional transformations and the story is better for it. The supporting cast is stacked with actors clearly relishing the opportunity to do something this broad but its mostly played straight making for interesting tonal tightrope. Jason Bateman as The Crab is a real highlight and it's nice to see McCarthy's continued collaboration with Bobby Carnivale(who plays the heavy), Pom Klementieff as Laser clearly embraces her badassery and all around it's just a good time.
Effective action scenes paired with beautiful slap-stick make for something more akin to Deadpool than the MCU but with a more family friendly vibe. With the crowded superhero landscape these days its nice to see this alternative take ie two middle-aged full-figured women being the ones kicking ass. Visually it's slick, the soundtrack slaps, the cast is full of award winners, and they're all having a great time. There's action and comedy in equal measure with enough heart to give it depth. A wonderful surprise.
It's reception critically is somewhat baffling unless you cede the majority of it to sexism/ageism/weightism. It absolutely delivers on what it intends to, it is what it appears to be a fun, funny, entertaining superhero/comedy from two notable stars not taking themselves too seriously.
Currently streaming on Netflix.
See It.
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