Marvel movies are a hit among fans for a number of reasons: the overarching stories, the character, and its humor. These films are the true definition of a comic book movie: fun. From Avengers to Guardians of the Galaxy, different directors put their own flavor to their films while still keeping the fun vibe of each. For the third outing of the Norse god, Kiwi director Taika Waititi brings in a new brand of humor in Thor: Ragnarok.
Asgard is facing a looming threat. Ragnarok is a prophesied apocalyptic end for the Asgardian civilization. With Odin (Anthony Hopkins) out of the picture, Loki and Thor have to set aside their brotherly feud to save their people. Meanwhile, a greater threat returns to make things more challenging for them. Hela (Cate Blanchett) claims power over Asgard while spreading her taste of wickedness.
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Unique Flavor
Marvel is obviously evolving with every film that it releases. James Gunn gets extra playful with his Guardians of the Galaxy films and Waititi puts a self-aware film in Ragnarok. The moment the trailer dropped, we knew from the get-go that the film will no longer be a run-of-the-mill comic book movie. The 80’s vibe of the logo and the retro-pop and rock music of the trailer promised a film sure to standout for its unique flavor.
And prove it did in the final output. Thor: Ragnarok is hilarious in every way. Its self-aware humor is almost comparable to Deadpool sans the blood and grime. The film is refreshing and possibly one of the funniest Marvel movies to date. It tends to go all out at times and that is when it shines. While it was a great watch, it is worth noting that this type of humor may not hit everyone’s taste.
Deliciously Evil
Chris Hemsworth shines the brightest when he loosens up as Thor. The sequences where he and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) are together are funny without even trying. Jeff Goldblum‘s Sakaar dictator, The Grandmaster, brings a certain levity to the narrative. We know he is a bad guy but he is charming enough to make us fall for him. With two plots going on- the arena in Sakaar and the destruction of Asgard- Thor: Ragnarok introduced two problems for the character. One of which is The Grandmaster and the other is Hela.
Thor and Loki’s long-lost sister is their most formidable foe yet. She is powerful enough to destroy the Mjolnir. Cate Blanchett owned the role as if it was written for her. Her enigmatic and deliciously evil portrayal of the character screams power. Take note, she is not just evil, per se. She is as real as any character as she can be.
Thor: Ragnarok meets the expectations set by its marketing materials. It is colorful, experimental, and laugh out loud funny. Backed by a strong cast and unique direction, there is no doubt Marvel bagged another gem in the bag. The film’s own brand of humor easily makes it the best in the series.
