I'm Hesitant To Report That The Trailer For Marvel's 'Thunderbolts*' Kinda Rocks

A group of supervillains are recruited to go on missions for the government.

You all know the deal at this point but I will reiterate anyway. 

The MCU is in a rut and desperately needs a win. -> Is XYZ movie the one to help revive the franchise? -> Trailer comes out for XYZ and it looks cool enough -> movie comes out and is either a box office bomb that is mediocre at best or just a garden variety piece of shit. 

The once exception to this cycle has been 'Deadpool and Wolverine' but, like the title of our newest movie, this comes with an asterisk. That movie was not truly part of the main MCU, not meant to revive the franchise and, while very good, has gotten a very healthy box office boost due to the lack of in-theater options post-strike. 

Well, we are about halfway through the post-endgame cycle because this trailer looked pretty solid to me. Light humor, off-beat heroes that really carry no expectations or weight, no ultra-powers, no multiverse. Just a off brand Suicide Squad (hopefully the second version). I don't hate that! There are only two things I would change if given the chance:

1. JLD going from winning 800 straight emmys to this just feels wrong. She definitely got PAID and I would never blame her for taking the bag, I just don't see the fit here. 

2. I don't thing using 'Where is My Mind?" was the right move. Its obviously so tied into 'Fight Club' and gives off more of a fake edgy feeling than anything to me. 

Other than that, I think projects like this are the move for the MCU. Get away from high stakes, uber powers, multiverse and return to some of the slightly above grounded work like The Winter Soldier.