Unfortunately, its follow-up The Dark World is one entry that does not survive the test of time, feeling uncharacteristically generic among Marvel's portfolio, and even its attempts at gargantuan scale were burdened by an over-reliance on powerless audience surrogates. But with Guardians of the Galaxy proving that the universe could dive in to the surreal and fantastical, and be embraced in the meantime, it feels like Marvel is finally letting Thor have the movie he deserves, the joyously eccentric Ragnarok that serves as a fantastic retooling of the character, leaning us closer to what these films should have been in the first place.
Since the events of Age of Ultron, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has unsuccessfully been scouring the universe for the rest of the Infinity Stones, but his quest is put on hold when the Goddess of Death Hela (Cate Blanchett) reemerges to seize Asgard as her own. His hammer Mjolnir destroyed, and having been set adrift in the bifrost, Thor is stranded on the distant world of Sakaar, forced into slavery as a gladiator, wherein he's forced to battle with his old Avenger teammate Hulk aka. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). Enlisting the help of Banner, fallen Asgardian warrior Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and his treacherous brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor plans a daring return to Asgard to defeat the evil goddess, and prevent the impending Ragnarok.
A common issue that many viewers tend to have with Marvel's ongoing universe is how they threaten to feel like for-hire jobs, with an overarching mood not affording their directors much room to leave their mark, resulting in the unceremonious exits of Edgar Wright and Patty Jenkins. However, it does seem that Marvel is addressing such issues moving forward, with James Gunn having previously made a vital mark on Guardians, and Ragnarok certainly continues the trend, brought to life by Taika Waititi, the New Zealand indie director behind What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Coupled with the experience of prior films, what Waititi brings to the table is a very surreal, colorful, naturalistic brand of humor and style invigorating the film from start to finish. It's a touch that works wonders throughout the film, becoming one of the funniest entries in Marvel's lineup to date. He brings this very relaxed and offbeat charm to the film, flavoring the film with a welcome absurdity, even delivering some trippy imagery, none the least of which showcased in his visual flair that consistently feels like a Metal LP cover brought to life.
The obvious enthusiasm he has for the project (even going so far as to provide his own motion-capture for scene-stealing newcomer Korg) just as easily translates to the rest of the cast. Chris Hemsworth is once again a perfect fit for Thor, who has perhaps never been more vulnerable of a character as he has here. In many ways, Ragnarok feels like a film centered around emasculation, as the once all-powerful god is left without his hammer to channel his abilities, and at one point has his flowing mane chopped off for combat. Humility has always been a key component of Thor's character, but even having been humbled several times, he's always retained a certain arrogance and superiority, and having lost the objects of his pride like Samson, is lost in a chaotic shuffle, even as his usual charming persona continues playing on rapid-fire.
I wish I could say that the same greatness held up for Cate Blanchett, as even Waititi can't seem to amend Marvel's most persistent issue of weak villains. To be fair to her, the character's back story is a well-delivered one that gives her immediacy and understandable motivation, and Blanchett is clearly relishing every second she spends onscreen, given an intimidating presence complete with battle armor resembling Sauron's helmet, and funnily enough feels like what Galadriel would have become had she taken the ring of power. Sadly, she spends a hefty chunk of the movie on the sidelines and pushed to the background, and the rivalry she shares with Thor is diminished as a result, as the two aren't even on the same planet for most of the movie.
But fear not, for the film is still teeming with numerous fantastic supporting players, both old and new. Since his earliest appearances, Tom Hiddleston has easily been one of the MCU's MVPs, with a very deceptive and slithering taste for the theatrical, and he proves no less entertaining here, in perhaps his most oddly noble and knowingly twisted appearance to date, that brings many of his personal disputes with his brother full circle. Also making high marks (forgive the pun) is the return of Mr. Ruffalo's Hulk, and this film deserves serious credit for going the extra mile in giving Banner's green and mean side genuine depth as its own character, almost becoming like a pushy big brother to Thor communicating in mostly Frankenstein speech. The film also features the returning likes of Anthony Hopkins as Odin, as well as Idris Elba's Heimdall being given a substantial increase in his role, even if both feel underutilized for much of the running time, especially Hopkins being given a rushed and unceremonious send-off.
One huge improvement Ragnarok makes is in deliberately limiting time spent of earth, as those were often the weaker elements of the series. As a result, this means that Natalie Portman is tossed aside, and in the place of both her and Sif is Valkyrie, played by Creed's Tessa Thompson. She has a killer introduction, wandering onto the scene quite literally drunk, and still managing to mow down a horde of scavengers surrounding Thor. Thankfully, the rest of her performance lives up to that initial promise, shedding new layers of past regrets as time moves on, but also built with such power and ferocity without teetering into overpowered. And furthermore, good on this movie for keeping her partnership with Thor a strictly asexual one, and doesn't force her into becoming just another love interest.
And if you want a villain who gives even Cate Blanchett a run for her money, then look no further than the Grandmaster, played by a riotous Jeff Goldblum. Almost feeling like a direct opposition to Benecio del Toro's more theatrical and self-serious Collector, Goldblum's villain may look the part of a vicious Roman Emperor, even projecting himself over the city of Sakaar like a Blade Runner advertisement, but in another of Waititi's quirks, plays it much closer to absurdity. There's an almost Python-esque quality to his performance, in fact feeling much closer to James Woods' Hades in certain regards, and is less like a vicious tyrant, and more like an over extravagant partyman forcing combatants to fight for his personal amusement like figures from his toychest. Of course, much of the character's success is owed to Goldblum's performance, as he is clearly having the time of his life cutting loose and embracing the eccentric oddities.
And overall, I think that style of humor and surrealness that Waititi finds in the material proves to be Ragnarok's greatest assets and saving graces, and even if he does lean a little too far into at times, I still love the eccentric touches he brings to it, at times almost as if veering into parody, and I mean that in the best way. And between this and Marvel's last few films, it's great to see the studio fully commit to the colorful, fantastical, and stylish nature of their original comics, and give each film a distinct flavor to combat the generic sameness that once threatened to wash their films out.
And though Marvel's formula may largely still be in check, it's also good of the studio to come around to the idea of long-term consequences within their universe, as the looming Infinity War approaches promising a gargantuan bloodbath. Time will tell if they intend to follow through on that potential darkness, but I'm excited regardless. I know that Marvel can't keep their winning streak up forever, and the day will come when they hit an inevitable roadblock that, if not destroying them, may well cripple them, putting them in need of a major course correction. All I can say is that today is not that day, and I don't see it happening anytime soon...
**** / *****
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