Title: Thor: Love and Thunder
Director: Taika Waititi
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale, Russell Crowe and more
Where: In theatres near you
Rating: 3 stars
This 29th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a sequel to the 2017 release 'Thor: Ragnarok' and the fourth Thor film to hit the theatres. If you liked 'Thor: Ragnarok', then probably you would love this film too, because here, director Taika Waititi, who also narrates the film as the loyal Korg, has raised the bars on all accounts; the audio, music, action, and comedy.
Set after the events of 'Avengers: Endgame', we see Thor (Chris Hemsworth) retired from the avenging game and on a quest for inner peace as he joins the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' on their intergalactic adventures. His retirement plan is interrupted by Gorr (Christian Bale), a father who could not save his young daughter from starvation on a parched planet.
Gorr, filled with rage because the gods he so fervently worshipped dismiss his plea to save his daughter, decides to eliminate them because they have become complacent and forgotten their true purposes. He takes it upon himself to liberate the universe from these gods after he acquires a powerful weapon known as the Necrosword and becomes the butcher of the Gods and thus acquires the name — God Butcher.
To combat Gorr’s threat, Thor — with his magical hammer Mjolnir enlists the help of his friends King Valkyrie, Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster for whom he still has feelings. How they set out to stop Gorr’s mission before it is too late forms the crux of the narrative.
If this sounds like a straightforward tale, it does not appear as simple as it is on-screen. There are a few subplots that add chaos and complicate the telling. These subplots are infused to comply with the title of the film.
The film is designed as a comedy, and thus the narrative dissipates the seriousness of the subject. Moreover, the plot moves at a rapid and startling pace with various themes like love, friendship, trauma, and the danger of possessing too powerful weapons, which make the tale appear as a frivolous comic extension. And to complicate the film, there are moments when the narrative appears disjointed with some key scenes missing, and what makes it worse is the tempo and tone of the film. The light tone of the film does not entirely balance the emotional moments.
On the performance front, Christian Bale steals the show with his Nosferatu-like visage. He makes Gorr — the God Butcher a memorable villain with his looks, purpose, and lines. You feel for him when he says, “I’m not a hypocrite… The gods will use you but will not help you. There is no eternal reward.”
Compared to Gorr, Thor appears as a forced character trying to shine in an author-backed role. Chris Hemsworth — as the good-natured Thor, is goofy and charismatic. He has played this character so often that there isn’t any more emotional growth left for it.
Russell Crowe as the portly and clownish Zeus with a Greek accent, Tessa Thompson as King Valkyrie, a brave and dashing character, and Natalie Portman as cancer-stricken Jane Foster have their moments of on-screen glory.
Overall, despite its chaotic plot leading to multiple endings, the film is engaging and entertaining in its own peculiar way. It will appeal only to those familiar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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