Is “Thor: Love and Thunder” Worth Seeing, or Another Senseless Marvel Instalment?

Please don't mob me, Marvel fans.

If you’re going to a Marvel movie for life-changing, philosophical cinema…let’s be real. You’re not going to get it.

Is there anything wrong with that? For two hours of low-stakes, action-packed, chuckle-worthy gags and entertainment, absolutely not. Just know what you’re looking for before you hit recline on the cinema seat.

I entered the 29^th instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with cautious optimism. After Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, I didn’t prepare myself for anything other than cheesy one-liners, unhinged villains, illogical plotlines, perhaps some interesting trope subversions, and at least one appearance of an MCU character from another timeline who receives a round of applause from the die-hard fans in the audience.

Safe to say, I received pretty much what I signed up for but with a tad more winking humour and an unwarranted glimpse of Thor’s behind.

While a fair amount of jokes fell flat, the characters managed to pry a smile and even a tear out of me.

Ever since director Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok was met with critical acclaim for its humorous revolution of the otherwise same-same Marvel filmic tone, Thor and his cronies have been completely recast as comedic personalities. Even Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, who was solemn and astute in the 2011 Thor film, adapts to the new ‘vibe’ with convincing playfulness and charm.

Meanwhile, Christian Bale’s villainous performance as Gorr the God Butcher treads the line between ‘cliched and tormented dude who’s been hurt in a past life’, and ‘uncanny, but genuinely scary imitation of Voldemort slash Nun from The Conjuring’. Bale’s acting hits the mark, but is tainted by the triteness of the character he embodied.

The heightened role of children in the film is one of the more enjoyable aspects. Whilst watching a comedically choregraphed battle scene involving a group of children no older than 13, I began to wonder why all Marvel movies aren’t like this.

Increasingly, these films seem to be made for twenty-to-thirty-something’s pining for glimpses of their childhood in formulaic narratives, playing on their nostalgia and knowledge of mid-2000’s movies just to get their hearts racing when an iconic actor makes a cameo appearance.

These superhero movies aren’t made for the kids. But how exciting would they be if they were? If the pre-teens in the audience saw superheros their age with god-like powers and agility? There was something wholesome, empowering and hopeful about witnessing that in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Leaving the theatre, I wasn’t sure what to think or feel. The second act had left me with a muddled range of emotions.

But ultimately, Thor: Love and Thunder is the kind of movie I’d only ever watch again in a 5-minute YouTube recap before the next Marvel movie comes out.

Header image: Disney via Polygon.