‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Review: A Disappointingly Shallow Marvel Encore for Taika Waititi – CNET

Surprisingly, the 29th MCU movie, which arrived in theaters Friday, misses the mark. In trying to balance comedy with drama and merging multiple classic comic storylines into a single narrative, Thor’s fourth solo adventure spreads itself too thin and ends up feeling shallow (even down to its two post-credits scenes).
Thor: Love and Thunder seemed guaranteed to be a slam dunk. Director Taika Waititi is back at the helm following 2017’s immensely entertaining Thor: Ragnarok, with Chris Hemsworth’s Asgardian Avenger finding his lovably comedic groove and Natalie Portman making her epic return to the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe after a nine-year absence.
This movie isn’t nearly as cameo-laden as its immediate MCU predecessor, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, but it does throw in a scene-stealing Russell Crowe as a narcissistic Zeus. Unfortunately, his role is mostly limited to a single shiny set piece that proves largely forgettable as the main narrative breezes through it. On Earth, Thor encounters his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Portman) in battle as Gorr attacks Thor’s fellow Asgardians. She’s wielding his old hammer Mjolnir, having been deemed worthy in her darkest hour and gaining powers similar to his.

Don’t expect to spend much time hanging out with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

One of the strongest scenes is a quiet conversation between Jane and Valkyrie, since it’s a rare instance of the movie slowing down and giving its actors and writing room to connect emotionally. Setting aside Hemsworth’s magnetic screen presence and imbecile comic timing, one can’t help but wonder if this adventure would’ve been better without Thor.

Gorr is presented magnificently throughout this adventure.
Love and Thunder doesn’t live up to the incredible stories that inspired it. It neither leans into its director’s style or maximizes its cast’s dramatic potential, feeling more like a shallow, unsatisfying mashup. It’s still a fun, silly entry in the MCU canon, but isn’t the classic Thor adventure its hunky hero seems to think he’s on. 
Thor relaxes, in one of the movie’s rare moments of calm.

Valkyrie is evidently an Andrew Lloyd Webber fan.

Rounding out the hero team is King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), who’s bored with her role as the leader of the magical tourist trap that New Asgard has become (this location includes an excellent deep-cut cameo). Though the movie fails to explore her ennui enough, Thompson infuses the character with sufficient mischief that she’s a joy to watch. Even her wardrobe choices hint at a fascinating inner life — her Phantom of the Opera shirt is way more intriguing than any superhero costume.
After his memorable introduction, Gorr’s menace is greatly diminished. The God Butcher’s comics counterpart (introduced in Jason Aaron’s beloved 2012 Thor: God of Thunder run) feels like a major threat as Thor follows a trail of divine slaughter across the universe. 

Given the very relatable human health problems Jane faces, this storyline should be Love and Thunder’s emotional heart. The movie just doesn’t take the time needed for the challenge she faces to sink in, like it’s afraid to get too real and overly eager to whisk us away on the next adventure (some dramatic moments are also undermined by its two post-credits scenes).

Despite this, Bale’s performance and the aesthetic choices inject the character with plenty of creepy spectral boogeyman vibes (apparently inspired by Aphex Twin’s deeply unsettling Come to Daddy music video). A midpoint confrontation with the heroes stands among the MCU’s most visually stunning sequences, with ingenious use of shadow and color.
The awkwardness between Jane and Thor is initially pretty fun — largely due to Portman and Hemsworth’s charisma and chemistry — but it doesn’t develop in a particularly compelling way. A one-note joke about Thor and his new weapon Stormbreaker proves more memorable, and even that quickly feels played out.
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It starts out promisingly enough, with a stark introduction setting up Christian Bale‘s villainous Gorr the God Butcher. After his harsh desert home-world claims the life of his daughter, his encounter with an uncaring, callous god drives him to mount a campaign to slaughter every divine being in the universe.