Thor: Ragnarok

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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Director Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows) gives a much needed shot in the arm to the Marvel franchise, employing his off kilter humor to some of our most beloved superheroes in “Thor: Ragnarok.” The film centers on Thor, the god of thunder and by using blatant Pop Art qualities, (predominately silver and gold with vibrating contrasting colors throughout) the film actually feels like a comic book. This is a rare thing. So many superhero epics do not look or feel like their source material.

You can probably guess the plot. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard and smells something amiss. His supernal sire Odin (Anthony Hopkins) has retired to a sofa of mistresses who feed him grapes, while brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) holds court. Odin is in his twilight and tells his sons that dark days are imminent. Ragnarok, an apocalypse is at hand. 

Sure enough, moments after Odin has vanished into the air, a gaseous poison ivy vine appears and Hela (Cate Blanchette) is present. Hela is Thor and Loki’s evil sister and she means business. If that is not enough, the title ‘Goddess of Death” also applies to her.

The action and pacing is swift and there are some great exchanges particularly between Thor and The Hulk ( Mark Ruffalo) as they sit for a break between combat like two kids at gym class: Thor wants to save his people while The Hulk belittles him in primitive Hulk speech about his tiny man physique. 

Also entertaining is Ruffalo in man form as Bruce Banner, lamenting and almost laughing at his disorientated state, finding himself in an alien planet, marveling in horror at his gigantic beaded necklace and his torn robes. Ruffalo’s anguish is real and there is something of Lon Chaney Jr’s “The Wolf Man” in his performance. Ruffalo might be acting in a comic book genre here, but he imbues his emerald-enraged creature with a human heart.

Jeff Goldblum has an outing as a polyester clad dictator with a penchant for eye makeup and while his nonchalant, overly cozy and effete manner is now a trademark, he still manages to get a few laughs as he trades witticisms with the Thunder God. Along for the ride is actor Tessa Thompson as an Asgard soldier and the director Waititi himself as Korg, a self deprecating gladiator made of rocks.

While the final battle scenes are less of a thrill than the first segments, not to mention the aforementioned dialogue between Ruffalo and Hemsworth, the action moves along and Cate Blanchette makes a very engaging villain, though her wardrobe is taken directly from “Maleficent.”

The best elements of “Thor: Ragnarok,” are its impromptu freedoms, its dazzling kitsch (echoing the 1980 cult film Flash Gordon) and its giggle-inducing lines. It is easy to see that the cast involved had fun in this chapter and you will too. This Marvel episode doesn’t take itself seriously yet it still has energy and dramatic pull. Above all, “Ragnarok” doesn’t put on airs, it is a visual comic, just as intended, without moral pretension or ennui.

Write Ian at ianfree1@yahoo.com