Yesterday, the 36th Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film hit cinemas - Thunderbolts* (2025). (I haven’t seen it yet, but I will next week and maybe it will even be good enough to land a spot in this here newsletter.) That is 36 whole, long and expensive feature films in just 17 years, not to mention all the TV shows.
Thunderbolts* marks the end of Phase 5, because those 36 films can also be defined by 5 phases, if you didn’t know. Many people have a lot of negative things to say about the MCU, particularly towards the last few years of releases. I am generally in agreement that there’s been some real stinkers, but the sheer volume of releases makes it all the more (Tony) stark. In Phase 1, from 2008-2012, there were 6 films. 6 films in 5 years, sure, okay. In Phase 4 and 5, from 2021-2025, there were 13 released. THIRTEEN. IN 5 YEARS. AND ITS ONLY MAY, because there will be ANOTHER in July. That’s FOURTEEN films in FIVE years.
The high risk game Marvel has been playing is making that many movies (that all rely on each other to some extent) in such a short period of time and trying to make us all care enough. The bad ones, like Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), The Marvels (2023) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), become the ones we remember and talk about. Just terrible, nonsensical and soulless pieces of work…
Then there have been a bunch of middle of the road ones, like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), which was totally fine and totally forgettable. However, there have also been some quite good ones, which is what I wanted to point out. Even though Marvel chose quantity over quality, making the bad ones worse and the good ones hard to love.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), for example, was really emotional and had a whole lot of heart in exploring the tragic backstory of Rocket the racoon. Taking a character that is relatively minor in the universe, and fleshing out his story, made it feel very original and captivating. In many ways it worked as its own standalone film because it also didn’t overly rely on all the multiverse silliness thats been going on. While we’re here, the multiverse is also at fault in my eyes, because a multiverse means stakes don’t exist and nothing is really real because everything is actually real and possible. Again, difficult to care and invest when things can just be erased and redone across infinite possibilities or timelines.
All the same, every time I head off to see a new Marvel feature I always say “actually this one could be good” and then I leave the cinema with only myself to blame. What can I say? I am optimistic to a fault. I am right this minute saying the exact same thing about Thunderbolts*, but this time (based on early reviews) I really am hopeful…
Another Simple Favor (2025), the anticipated sequel to A Simple Favor (2018) starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively has arrived on Prime Video. It is not as good as the first (in fact its kind of a mess), but for completionism… I thought I’d mention!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) is now on Netflix and Paramount+, I recommended this one for its beautiful animation and funny story when it was in cinemas so if you didn’t see it then - time to stream it now!
Hacks (2021)
TV Series
Stan
Jean Smart stars in this series as a legendary stand-up comedian, Deborah Vance, who is at risk of losing her Las Vegas residency. To reinvigorate her work, she hesitantly hires young comedy writer, Ava. The two women forge a tense bond, that plays out kind of like a Ross & Rachel sitcom trope, except its platonic and professional. Basically, they oscillate between being besties who challenge and empower each other, to then betraying and loathing each other (and back again). I really enjoy this take on the on-again-off-again sitcom plot, because we all know, as much as we don’t like fighting, when the protagonists are getting along we become desperate for some tension again. The show explores the cross-generational dynamics, particularly around the role of ‘wokeness’ in comedy and the challenges of being older and/or a woman in the entertainment industry.
Hacks has 3 seasons of funny and easy to watch 30-min episodes, which I’ve found to be an excellent wind-down show. Plus, season 4 is currently releasing weekly on Stan. Although it is a Max show, so is likely to make the move over pending what Stan’s licensing rights look like.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)
Film
Paramount+
In one of the most perfect, feel-good films, we head to Paris with Mrs. Harris. What more could you want? The reason we’re going to Paris with Mrs. Harris is that she has fallen in love with Dior haute couture and after coming into some unexpected money, decides to purchase herself a gown. Set in 1957, a lot of this film is about the class divide between the working class (Mrs. Harris herself being a cleaner and war widow) and the wealthy elite, through how they view luxury goods and work. Its Paddington-esque levels of wholesomeness with a charming and generous lead character, played by Lesley Manville, who leaves everyone in the story better than how she found them. Perfect if you’re looking for something very sweet and very hopeful.
Chicago (2002)
Film
Netflix, Stan
Based on the stage musical of the same name, Chicago follows a housewife and a vaudeville star who meet on death row for committing their own respective murders. With infidelity being the main motivation across all the women we meet in this county jail. Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones give stunning performances as the lead women, supported by the excellent Richard Gere as the ethically dubious criminal lawyer and Queen Latifah as the jail’s matron. The lawyer harnesses the media sensationalism to make his clients famous, creating sympathy, driving doubt and influencing the trial.
One of my favourite musical-movies, Chicago has black comedy humour, gorgeous choreography and a banging soundtrack. Cell Block Tango and We Both Reached for The Gun - classics!!! Its also a Best Picture winner, so I’m certainly not the only fan.
Thanks for reading as always!
Why don’t we paint the town,
Linley x
