If you never really liked the first two solo outings of Thor, this one might actually change your mind. Thor’s films were never the strongest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first film feeling like a typical superhero movie to be introduced in a larger universe, the second film setting the bar low as a time killer for the next Avengers movie, and leaving us with no expectations for the third film. So what does another Norse sci-fi fantasy movie have in store for the god of thunder?
With Taika Waititi on board, the style and the look of the film has changed drastically. The director being known for his comedy short films. The film deviates from the other last two as it leans towards the more sci-fi nature of the film. The planet Sakaar where Thor gets stuck is a standout. A dystopic and chaotic planet filled with spaceships and space gladiators controlled by the Grandmaster (played by Jeff Goldblum). Thor gets stuck in the games of the Grandmaster forced to fight against his will as he also needs to save his home of Asgard yet again from yet another world-ending plot in his classic heroic style.
The film delivers its villain with what I would say as an “above” average villian for the MCU with Hela (played by the lovely Cate Blanchett) being a very terrifying nemesis for Thor, was only mostly involved in the first and final act with Thor struggling with other things in its middle act. His time in Sakaar was probably the best part of the film as from he trying to talk with both Hulk and Banner (played by Mark Ruffalo) getting on their good sides. Hulk actually talks now and he is hilarious too. It felt like a funny buddy comedy that would have been more fun if the film focused more on their story. Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston) is also in the film and playing as supporting role as a point of slapstick for the most part; with a brother has gotten used to his silly old tricks and does his best to play along with it. The bromance of the two brothers have never been this heart-warming and funny.
The movie’s style and tone greatly resembles that of Guardians of the Galaxy from a lot of slapstick humor and fake-outs (minus the awesome soundtrack with only Led Zeppelin song heard from its trailers). This would be a problem if the other Thor films had their whole identity but as said before, they never were the strongest of the MCU films. This shift of focus of the film was mostly for the better with the hilarity giving it a more pleasing tone, but for Marvel as a whole to focus more of its franchise to their comedic side might get slate and sometimes annoying to some degree. We might need more of those Winter Soldier movies sometime soon. We’ll see where Black Panther’s film is going with and hope for the new franchise to make their whole mark in the MCU.
Overall, Thor’s third film would easily be his best. One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s funniest films, a great ending to Thor’s story in the MCU, and a great way to also give light to Hulk’s part in the MCU. Here’s to hoping that the shift to a more humorous Thor and Hulk will be well placed when the next Avengers film comes with everyone seemingly so witty now.
Nas Velasco 