Thor: Love and Thunder

 

Image credit: dvdreleasedates.com

It’s been a while since I wrote a movie review, the main reason being that I haven’t really been going to the cinemas very much anymore. It’s not that my love and adoration for the medium has been extinguished, rather I’ve just been preoccupied with streaming services and online content. But, seeing as I now have a spare moment to catch up where I’ve fallen behind, it’s time to share my thoughts on a few of the latest Marvel movies, starting with Thor: Love and Thunder.

Thor has been travelling around the galaxy with the Guardians, unable to settle after the events of The Blip and Thanos’ brief reign. Listless and uncertain about his own purpose and relationships in the world, a glorious distraction comes his way when he learns that there is a being terrorising the galaxy, one that has the ability to kill gods. Unable to face this great evil on his own, he enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster to save the gods from extinction.

Taika Waititi broke the mould with Ragnarok, giving Thor a fantastic character turn and his films, their own unique edge in the MCU. I guess the problem of doing something so good and having it received so well is that when the opportunity comes to do it again, the higher powers become adamant that it needs to be a repeat of the predecessor. Love and Thunder is a whole lot of fun, visually impressive with memorable action scenes, relationship drama, and a whole lot of heavy metal homages.

However, having spoken to other people who watched the film around the same time I did, the common thought was that it was a mindless filler movie: a fair amount of fun, but nothing particularly critically linking in ways of an over-arching story. Almost like a stand alone Thor film to remind people he’s still here. The feeling I got was one of phoning it in. The humour and the visual aspect were very good and reminiscent of Ragnarok, but the film did have this slightly lacklustre vibe of just doing what it was told, rather than everyone really putting the love into it. A going-through-the-motions sort of vibe. This is the risk I mean when I talk about filmmakers doing something that’s received so well, that the money-grubbing higher powers don’t let them take new risks and try new things when they get the green light for another film.

But, to be fair, this is the only area in which I can say that the film was unsatisfying. Everything else is really rather great and in keeping with what we’ve come to expect from a Thor movie. The balance of action, comedy, and drama is perfect, the costumes, special effects, and set design is immaculate, and the performances are all great. Special shout out has to go to Christian Bale who makes an excellent villain.

Image credit: nme.com

The problem with the MCU at the moment is that most audiences are suffering from Marvel fatigue, a come-down that’s particularly affecting how audiences view the movies. Disney has done a very smart thing to have the TV shows happening simultaneously and tying a lot of crucial plot points into them. Without that crucial move, the entire phenomenon could have just fizzled out. As it stands, there is the threat of Marvel fatigue about, but the shows are working to lessen and soothe the symptoms so that the films don’t suffer as much at the box office.

Director: Taika Waititi, 2022

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Kat Dennings, Bradley Cooper, & Russel Crowe