THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER

Australia/US, 2022, 119 minutes, Colour.

Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Taika Waititi, Russell Crowe, Jaimie Alexandre, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementief, Sean Gunn, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy, Matt Damon, Luke Hemsworth, Sam Neill, Simon Russell Beale, Stephen Curry, Idris Elba, Kate Denning.

Directed by Taika Waititi.

For 10 years and more Chris Hemsworth has been the Marvel Universe embodiment of Thor (for his own films, appearing in four Avengers movies, and guesting in a number of video games and shorts). More recently it looks as if Thor has been taking it far too easily, lazy, putting on weight. Now he has to go through a health and fitness regime again so that he can combat the archvillain, Gorr, whose mission is to destroy all the gods. Gorr kidnaps the children from the city of Asgard (now a tourist attraction even with a sideshow play about Odin, Thor and Loki – managed by Ben Falcone, his wife, Melissa McCarthy, playing the Mother, Hela, Sam Neill as Oden, Luke Hemsworth (fair enough) as Thor and, of all people, with two comparatively brief scenes, Matt Damon as Loki! And the town, peaceable, is ruled over by Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson).

The opening is particularly serious, eliciting some compassion for Gorr, wandering the desert with his young daughter who dies, confronting selfish gods in an oasis and going on a mission of destruction. He is a villain, but we sympathise with what he has gone through – and he is played, very seriously by Christian Bale.

Seriously is not exactly the word comes to mind with Chris Hemsworth enjoying himself as Thor – somebody remarked about his goofiness and that seems a good word to describe his tongue-in-cheek humorous approach to his character. He teams up again with his first love, scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) who wants to join with him in his exploits, hoping that this will control her terminal cancer. And, director, Taika Waititi, is back again as the stone creature, along with his New Zealand iccent (this reviewer having a New Zealand grandfather feels free to make accent jokes and references).

In fact, as the narrative goes along, there is a lot of farce introduced. This is especially the case with the surprise appearance of Russell Crowe as Zeus, the king of the gods, with his special effects lightning rod (and, a strange Greek-Australian accent which might remind older audiences of television’s, Con the fruiterer!).

So, there is quite a deal of comedy, quite a number of battles, but in the accent of Taika Waititi, it is often quite ‘a but sully’.

It has drawn audiences in all around the world – but its main appeal will be to the Marvel Universe fans and those whose funnybone is quickly and easily tickled. For those whose funnybone is rather resistant to tickling, somebody said it was Thorful!

1. The Marvel Universe, the place of Thor, the Nordic gods, his coming to earth in previous stories, his roaming the universe, his relaxing and getting out of fitness, his being called back to action?
2. The various locations of the Marvel Universe, the harsh desert and the oasis of the ruthless king? Asgard, Thor’s home, the city, tourist attraction, ruled by Valkyerie? The abducted children? The realm of Zeus, lavish, action? The confrontation between Gorr and Thor and Jane? Saving the children?
3. The strong cast, even to guest appearances from major stars?
4. The tone of the opening, Gorr in the desert, his daughter dying, lack of water, the oasis, expecting help, his being despised, his turning against the gods, vengeance, the Butcher? His taking the children, holding them in captivity? The buildup to the confrontation with Thor, with Jane, the fighting, vanquished?
5. Chris Hemsworth as Thor, audiences enjoying his performances, tongue-in-Chief, the goofy moments, not taking himself too seriously? Remembering his past and his heritage? Memories of Jane from the first film? The reappearance, it will, getting the hammer, costume, wanting to join him, to rescue the children, the effect on her, her hopes that it would overcome her cancer?
6. Thor going to Asgard, the hammer and his being transported to the children, their story? His getting the help of Val Keary? Korg, Rock creature, New Zealand accent, the comedy of the writer-director, his falling apart and gathering himself together? Advice, companionship?
7. The time in Asgard, the tourists, the fair, entertainment? The play about Odin and his sons? The irony of Matt Damon as Loki, having Luke Hemsworth as Thor, Sam Neill is Odin, Ben Falcone as promoter, Melissa McCarthy as Hela?
8. The decision to approach Zeus? The lavish court, diagnosis, Zeus and his self-image, costume? Russell Crowe as Zeus? And the Australian-Greek accent and its effect? Zeus’s pompous, his lightning, the confrontation with Thor, defeat?
9. Jane, the past, science, her friends and advice, the doctors, the cancer, her seeking out Thor, joining him, the battles, costume, the Hammer, victory but its effect on her?
10. The return of the children? Everybody happy? And the previews within the final credits, Zeus revived, Jane dead but her life after death? Thor returning?