Someone has got to put Thor out of his misery. That’s the setup of “Thor: Love and Thunder,” but it also becomes a larger existential question after taking in this middling installment, the latest version of “twee Thor” from co-writer and director Taika Waititi. While the Oscar-winning Kiwi darling’s “Thor: Ragnarok” provided an infusion of fresh humor into the MCU back in 2017, “Love and Thunder” proves the bloom is off the rose when it comes to Waititi’s cutesy take on the God of Thunder.
“Love and Thunder” is the fourth “Thor” movie and the second co-written and directed by Waititi, who teams up with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson on the script. The film is decidedly a “comedy,” rooted in Waititi’s signature brand of cheeky forced cheer. It’s a whole lot of silly accents and bum flashes and an ongoing gag involving screaming goats (remember that?). The script’s comedic sensibility feels straight out of 2012 Tumblr, and the abuse of '80s heavy metal font, too many Guns N' Roses needle drops, and Chris Hemsworth’s cheerful himbo performance as Thor can’t salvage that.
It’s a superhero movie that would rather be a rom-com, but the two genres don’t play nice here. The story revolves around the love lost, and found again, between Thor and his ex-girlfriend Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). Jane turns to Mjolnir in a time of need, and finds herself transformed into Mighty Thor. A bumbling, but sweet, reunion between the exes commences. However, we also need to see Thor in action, so enter Christian Bale as Gorr, the antagonist. Gorr has lost his daughter and his faith in the gods, so he’s taken up a magic sword, a new nickname (the God Butcher) and a new hobby killing gods. Thor’s got to stop him and save the children of New Asgard, whom Gorr has spirited away to a cage in the shadow realm.
