The god of thunder returns for a fourth solo outing, with Chris Hemsworth once again reprising the title role that made him a star.
Taika Waititi who directed the excellent Thor: Ragnarok in 2017 is also back onboard as director and Co-writer alongside Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.
The film finds Thor where we left him, in semi retirement, battling intergalactic threats alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy (Chris Pratt, Karen Gillen Et al.)
But when a new threat emerges in the form of Christian Bale’s Gorr, who seeks to destroy the Gods, Thor must bid the Guardians farewell and set out to confront the God Butcher.
To do so, he enlists help from friends Korg and Valkyrie as well as a new hero in the form of ex-Girlfriend Jane Foster, inexplicably wielding his old magical hammer Mjolnir.
Natalie Portman, once thought to be done with Marvel, makes a surprise return as Jane, in her new Mighty Thor guise, a female version of the Norse god, however this transformation is never coherently explored.
For better or worse, films in the pre Endgame MCU felt very much like intricate jigsaw pieces in the much wider narrative. Every film seemed to lead tantalisingly onto the next one. But now in the studio’s new phase 4, we are seeing more standalone entries with little or no reference to the wider universe. Thor: Love and Thunder is one of those films and it feels superficial and throwaway as a result.
Waititi focuses on his trademark humour that worked so well last time, and turns it up a notch, with very mixed results. Where before the humour was carefully balanced with Ragnarok’s more serious elements, here the director pushes things into spoof territory and it doesn’t really work.
There are admittedly some funny moments (Thor’s strange love triangle with his former hammer and his Axe), but a lot of the jokes push the envelope too far and come off as awkward and cringey. Recurring gags involving Jane’s hunt for a catchphrase and the pair of screaming space goats are mildly amusing once, but are milked for all they’re worth.
The scene in the temple of the gods, at the films mid point, which is wall to wall with flashy CGI and includes a bizarrely accented performance from Russell Crowe’s Zeus, is one of the worst things the MCU has ever served up.
Where the film works, is during the early stages, when Thor is acting as the Guardians arrogant saviour, and during the fantastic Guns and Roses themed battle scenes which are scattered throughout the film. While the dazzling colour palette, channels the striking neon of 80’s cult hit Flash Gordon.
Christian Bale throws himself wholeheartedly into the role of the menacing Gorr, and like the MCU’s best villains, the actor generates sympathy for his cause, even though the Butcher’s methods are highly questionable.
When the film gets earnest in the second half and tries to explore love and loss, it doesn’t feel earned, and you’re almost expecting another glib punchline to hit anytime.
Marvel have frequently been criticised for not giving their filmmakers enough freedom, but this feels like Waititi has been given far too much after the success of Ragnarok.
Thor: Love and Thunder is a smug, self satisfied film, which unwisely pushes the comedy to the point of parody, cheapening the stakes.
Whilst not completely without merit, this is a definite misstep for the franchise.
⭐️⭐️
Paul Steward
@Grittster
10/07/22