Review: “Thor: Love and Thunder” is one big, grand mess of an MCU movie

2.5 stars. 1 hour 59 minutes. Rated PG-13

Do we really need more thunder in our lives right now?

This is a valid question for “Thor: Love and Thunder,” the fourth and latest Marvel Cinematic Universe entry about our Asgardian god-hero. The stakes in MCU movies are always about the size of the universe, but in his latest, highly packed adventure, Thor’s spirit is really on the line.

We’ve seen the charming and testosterone-fueled character of Chris Hemsworth in a dozen or more movies since its 2011 debut, but when it’s good, there’s always room for more. This is especially true as the MCU moves toward a more equitable but narratively justifiable universe with films such as “Shang-Chi,” “Black Widow,” “The Eternal,” and its Disney+ streaming series, “Ms.” continues to grow. miracle. ,

“Love and Thunder” is about Thor, yes, but it also stars the brilliant, cancer-stricken Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), the Asgardian king Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), is led by a group of kidnapped Asgardian children. Deadpan Astrid/Axl (son of the late “Thor” series character Heimdall, and played by Kieron L. Dyer) and the creepy, bleached villain Gore the God Butcher (Christian Bale).

Thor isn’t interesting just because he has the body of a lifter and the brain of a man-boy, or because he’s (still) sweetly amusing in his insecure masculinity. Rather, he is always fighting for his own upliftment versus his service to humanity. When Foster dated Thor (seen here in flashback, as well as new scenes set to take place in the past) they eventually split. Why? Is there really any pathos to this character?

At least in the hands of director and co-writer Taika Waititi, whose punchy humor and outrageous setpieces made 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok” a ridiculously entertaining, hyper-stylized, “Guardians of the Galaxy”-flavored outing. While they could have easily deduced some of the roundabout fun of it, Waititi also presented a relatable and submissive protagonist. He showed what kind of amazing things were possible in the MCU – rock monsters whose hearts, Loki and the Hulk were getting along, even Jeff Goldblum. he nailed it.

This doesn’t happen often here. A jittery, bone-dry introduction gives us the alternating curt and cartoonish gore of Bell, who goes into violent desperation when his young daughter dies—despite her appeal to the gods. He’s summoned to a weapon called the Necrosword, which can kill gods, and he eventually begins to do so while he puts himself in the Shadow Realm, a black-and-white, Impressionist setting we’ve actually seen. Haven’t seen MCU’s 30 or earlier. films (this is the 29th since 2008).

Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy, the latter of which are entirely in the background in the montage-heavy first act, have been “classic Thor adventures” as they answer galactic distress calls. But Thor and his rock-boy Korg (voiced by Waititi) wish for other adventures. They split up to help the new Asgardians back on Earth, as well as discovering Foster’s new mighty mighty Thor character, who was created when he needed Thor’s former godly hammer, Mjolnir (who, somehow, when he used it). is used, treats her cancer). ,