While Chris Hemsworth’s brawny Asgardian prince is a staple of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, the Thor standalone films have been middling entries at best. In Thor: Ragnarok, director Taika Waititi takes Thor away from the shining fantasy world of Asgard and the familiar locations of earth, dropping him into a colorful cosmic adventure. It’s a pretty big shake-up, and Waititi offers excitement and humor, delivering the strongest entry in the franchise by far.
After his long-confined sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett), breaks free to claim the throne, the god of thunder is expelled from his home world alongside his brother and sometime enemy Loki (Tom Hiddleston). They end up on a planet that serves as a sort of universal junk heap, and Thor struggles to get back to defeat his sister, finding another displaced Asgardian (Tessa Thompson) and his fellow Avenger Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) along the way.
The film shines when it focuses on the relationship between the titular hero and his comrades. Its humor is its strongest asset, but there’s enough action to satisfy most superhero fans. Hela is the weakest element of the film—through no fault of Blanchett’s. Marvel is often criticized for its underdeveloped villains, and she exists simply to menace our heroes and provide exposition. Still, Thor has long deserved a better film, and now, he has one.
Should you see it? Yes, it’s a lot of fun!
Viewed at Marcus Wehrenberg Chesterfield Galaxy 14
