Chris Hemsworth was born to play Thor. That was evident from the moment the Aussie sauntered on the screen for director Kenneth Branagh in 2011. He’s back in Thor: Love and Thunder and it’s nice to return to the landscape of the Norse god. The second Thor film in a row finds the creative tandem of director Taika Waititi and star Hemsworth back together, but sadly… the duo does not hit the mark as much as they did in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok.
Our story truly commences with backstory laid out for our villain, Gorr (a stellar Christian Bale). It’s an electric, informative, and intensely entertaining introduction and immediately sets the tone for the entire motion picture. Then, we find Waititi’s character Korg telling the story of Thor to a bunch of children, which serves as a terrific means of reminding the audience where we last left the God of Thunder. Plus, those of us who have followed Waititi’s career know the New Zealander is a gifted thespian and he brings something truly special to the role of entirely made of stones Korg—not merely in the film’s opening minutes.
Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie is now King Valkyrie and oversees New Asgard. Having Thor at the ready to defend every soul who lives on the good side of the spectrum comes in handy, especially now with Gorr on a supernaturally driven God killing spree. Gorr will not stop until every God has perished and, he believes, the power will shift to “the people.” Thing is, with each successive murder, Bale’s character grows stronger, and he starts assuming his victim’s powers.
Just in time, as things start to get perilous, someone from Thor’s past shows up—which leads to some emotive introspection and causes a wrinkle that reverberates throughout this world. Jane (Natalie Portman) is back! The PhD scientist from the first film—that found Jane and Thor an item—has thrown the Avenger for a loop. He precisely knows how long it’s been since they saw each other. So yeah, this supe still pines for the Earth-living Jane. She is back, yes, but she is not the same. In fact, she is The Mighty Thor. Mjölnir chose her. Thor wields an enormous, axe-like weapon called Stormbreaker that he picked up after his sister (Cate Blanchett’s Hela) turned Mjölnir into rubble and a handle in the third Thor flick.
There’s an awesome amount of action that finds Hemsworth flexing his action movie muscles, while Portman and Thompson too get in on some major fighting scenes. Waititi is so comfortable capturing action, it’s always so striking. We keenly know he’s innately funny. The storyteller is able to strike that delicate balance of allowing your audience to laugh during your film, even if the subject of said movie is life in Germany during the rule of Hitler and the Nazis— the Oscar winning Jojo Rabbit.
Waititi did a phenomenal job with the action and emotion with his first MCU film, Thor: Ragnarok and has a firm command of it in Love and Thunder. The trouble with the filmmaker’s latest is that there are moments that feel like a real stretch in the suspension of disbelief department. Also, returning favorites like Thompson is not given enough to do, and not enriched all too well in Waititi and co-screenwriter Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s script.
Now there are many, many comics with storylines involving Thor and The Mighty Thor (Portman). It’s just that this particular story never really takes off or grabs you by the lapels, demanding your full attention—which is insane because Ragnarok could not have been more exciting and engaging. Waititi has achieved something special with this phenomenal world, aided by production designer Nigel Phelps. Weave in the gripping score by Michael Giacchino and Nami Melumad and Thor: Love and Thunder is easy on the eyes and ears.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the problem arises. But there are problems. Bale is sensational, particularly as the film progresses and he sinks further into his character’s madness. After being Batman for three films for Christopher Nolan, it had to be a blast to go off the rails as a baddie in the MCU. From what we witnessed throughout the film—he loved every minute of it.
Hemsworth is his usual affable self and his chemistry with Portman has been undeniable. The Aussie actor’s connection with Bale is palpable as well and takes some surprising turns where you would least expect it. Portman also has a ball wielding that hammer. There’s something going on with Jane (no spoilers here!) and having an Oscar winner to venture back and forth between being dragged down to uplifted by action is exactly what the doctor ordered. It takes a talent of her mettle to pull this off. Bale is breathtaking as Gorr and could argue that his baddie is the best one in the Thor films, which is saying much given the ever-present shadow of Loki (Tom Hiddleston).
All of that should add to a ring the bell and let the world know we have a winner of a movie.
Instead, there are periods where the movie drags (very unlike Waititi), and it seems to trip over itself on occasion. You have great heroes, an explosive villain, a visual palette that is literally otherworldly and a killer score with several Guns n’ Roses songs thrown in and Thor: Love and Thunder should be a winner.
Instead, it’s just… OK.
Grade: C