When I showed up at the Fallen Timbers Mall movie complex in the early evening on a Tuesday, (great pricing... only $5.75 a ticket!) I was enthusiastically greeted by the Fotopleses who had secured seating front and center in the upward auditorium. I was glad they did because during the preliminary commercials and previews the place kept filling up to near capacity before the main feature came on. I guess everybody loves a bargain.
And a great entertainment bargain this “Thor” is! As Marvel superheros go, I've always looked upon Thor as one of the sillier ones since he is based wholly on Norse mythology which, like most mythology, is totally unbelievable. But when you talk about superheros that have a pseudo-scientific origin, you can pretend that such beings COULD exist in such a far-fetched scenario. A billionaire scientific genius COULD devise an armored suit tricked out with high-tech capabilities and become Iron Man. A group of smart scientists exploring in a spaceship COULD get caught up in an unknown cosmic maelstrom that somehow turns them into the Fantastic Four. A really intelligent scientist COULD get inadvertantly exposed to a tremendous burst of gamma rays that somehow transforms him into the Incredible Hulk!
Ahhhh... NO! Science has already established that high intensity gamma ray radiation is decidedly lethal to all known forms of life. Which kinda makes the Hulk as ridiculously unbelievable as the Thor character. But when approached with the right kind of lighthearted, whimsical attitude – like you use when reading fairy tales to children – then these characters can be hugely entertaining. So how fortunate it is that the Hulk is a featured player in “Thor: Ragnarok”!
Dr. Strange, another logically unbelievable character (sorcery; demons; netherworlds!) also makes a short, delightfully whimsical, slightly slapstickish appearance. And every True Believer's favorite mentor and wacky old uncle, Stan Lee, enters stage right in what struck me as the funniest cameo he's ever done in any Marvel movie.
FUN! That's what “Thor: Ragnarok” is all about. One Hundred, Eighty Million dollars worth of fun! And ya know what? Marvel Studios got most of it back on opening weekend! By the time this review is published I'm sure they will be many, many millions in the black.
New Zealand director, Aieka Waititi, has taken Marvel characters into the comedic realm of Buster Keaton, the Three Stooges and ... and Godzilla! Heck! It's even fun to say the man's name real fast three times in a row. Although, if you do it in public you're likely to get some strange stares.
All prior Marvel movies have definite humorous moments; both action and dialogue. But “Thor: Ragnarok” is a comedic marathon over two hours long! Which is the only minor quibble I have with the movie. I think 10 or 15 minutes trimmed from it might've alleviated the overwhelmed feeling I got as it approached the two hour mark. But, as I said, this is a MINOR quibble and should in no way deter you from seeing the movie.
It is a glorious feast for the eyes. You can see that one hundred, eighty million right up there on the screen in high def, digital production value. You can also tell the actors are having a lot of fun with their characters. Cate Blanchette in her hilariously spiky headgear luxuriates in over-the-top evil. Tom Hiddleston seems relaxed and comfortable playing a second banana sidekick reluctantly revealing a softer side to his own evil nature. And Jeff Goldblum is perfectly cast as a bumbling puppet master who always sees himself as the winner. Kinda reminds me of a current leader.
Then there are our two heros: Thor and Hulk. I must confess a slight resentment I've always held against Chris Hemsworth and his perfectly sculpted, muscular physique. I can much more easily relate to Mark Ruffalo's average male body. So I probably took more satisfaction than I should have when Hulk startted slamming Thor around like a rag doll. Boy! Was that fun!!