Written by: Taika Watiti and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson / Directed by: Taika Watiti / Distributed in the UK by Walt Disney / Running Time: 119 Minutes
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14th July 2022
Review by Rob Deb. Read more of Rob’s reviews here
The Pitch: Thor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.
Thor is a hard character at the best of times. Being a god has to be one of the biggest privileges to check and with him being so well connected, it's hard to see the old god network not get him what he wants at any time or space. The argument is to try and spread him thin by throwing everything and the kitchen sink at him and seeing what sticks. This can add humour and levity but it's hard to see where you can push him to evolve. Taika Waititi, to his credit, takes a brave stab at our Asgardian’s heart by establishing our villain / cosmic force as the Guardians, action, hair metal, and chemo treatments are bombarded in a candy-flossed barrage within the first 20 minutes that leaves a certain sense of unbalance that pervades that the whole film.
the conversation on faith, gods and men comes down to some great moments that affect everyone
In many ways, this is Thor's answer to ‘No Way Home’ establishing his loss through the previous films of the MCU, both parents and that time his brother died, and that other time, and the last time. But it's a form of housekeeping that doesn't quite gel with our glass half full of hammer’s hero. As he hunts for the god butcher we are reintroduced to Jane Foster and they take the bold (to my mind), decision to deal with cancer. Natalie Portman brings a great range to the subject and it is at the centre of the themes. That's not to say this film focuses solely on her condition. But throughout the conversation of faith, gods and men comes down to some great moments that affect everyone. Survival vs quality of life, the distancing from others, and the prescription of one's own life all show in the moments it is discussed. But the decision is hers and never overwhelms nor is trivialised through the film. For my part…mum had lung cancer, I loved her, I cared for her, I shielded her, and I grieved for her. The experience was intense, yet at the same time, not unique, and that's reflected here.
a lot of the jokes are frankly, hammered
The lighter moments have some great jokes, the reality of migrant economics, and 2nd generation arguments: “Astrid is a fine Asgardian name your father gave you, I will not call you AXL”. We also get my favourite god of mischief to make an appearance most unexpectedly. But a lot of jokes are frankly, hammered, that they break the uncanny valley and turn into a panto. Thor’s meeting with Zeus has a cheeky moment but sadly absurdity dwarfs reality and one can't help but wonder where the Hela were these guys when Thanos was building his glove. By the climax of the film, we do get some fantastic twists and Christian Bale’s performance is one of the best villains of the MCU. Humour and anger and believable and tragic. In many ways, being a regular ‘human’ with a cursed weapon he fulfils the old cliche of being an inverted version of the hero… the hero in this case not being Thor but The Mighty Thor. It's an entertaining film and to bring stories of disease and grief to someone sold on his bonhomie as Thor is something great and delightful to see those chances being taken. But the laughs do fall flat and take you out of the film a few too many times to hit the heights of Ragnarok.
Marvel zombies will devour every easter egg. The muggles will answer yes to the question ‘are you entertained’ but given the speed of streams these days. I'll wait for my Bifrost.