Thor: Ragnarok completely re-writes the script on Thor. As tempting as it is to criticize the film for further blurring the lines of serious characters versus comedic ones in the Marvel cinematic universe - indeed, everyone is a comedian in this world now - the end result here is one of the funniest installments in the seventeen-and-going-strong franchise. Much of this, of course, is owed to director Taika Waititi, whose preference for exploring outsider characters and utilizing the comedy of the mundane so effectively in his smaller films like Boy, Eagle vs. Shark, What We Do In The Shadows, and The Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
It also doesn't hurt that they have Chris Hemsworth. Revealing a skilled comedic actor under his armor of muscles during Ghostbusters, Waititi opted to let that out again. There are many who would argue that Thor shouldn't be constantly cracking wise, and that it winds up being distracting whenever he does. This was, for clarity, something I myself had criticized Joss Whedon of doing back on The Avengers. And to be sure, there is a fair criticism to be made about it here as well. If you're interested in Thor because he isn't Spider-man or Deadpool or Robert Downey Jr., then he will come off as a nearly unrecognizable character in Ragnarok.
Here's the key difference, though: The Avengers was an action/adventure film through and through with comedic characters and moments written in because that's how those films tend to work. Ragnarok is played as a straight up comedy. If "funny Thor" doesn't work for you, it's likely going to be a miserable ride. However, Thor is pretty consistently funny throughout the film. It might not be "your Thor," but the character is consistently written and portrayed throughout the film. There are darker elements to the story, to be sure, but on the whole, the film is meant to be funny, fun, and entertaining. This goal is achieved on a constant basis throughout.
Not enough can be said about the humor, either. Admittedly, I went in thinking Thor should be serious and starting off annoyed at how "jokey" he was. At the same time, I had a smirk the entire duration. I was laughing within minutes. It's such an odd experience to be angry and laughing at the same time! Eventually, I settled in and saw the film for what it was, and it is super enjoyable. Waititi is clearly influenced a lot by Flash Gordon, which will tell you about the kind of tone he's going for.
Ragnarok is, structurally, identical to every Marvel movie of the past, yet it puts a unique spin on many components. Most interestingly is the conclusion. The stakes are just as high as they've always been: the fate of the world (Asgard) and the other realms (the universe). Yawn, I know. That said, what makes it stand out is in the way they defeat the villain. Success and failure exist in the same space at the finale. To defeat his sister, Thor must actually allow the world to be destroyed. With the fate of the world on the line, our hero must sacrifice it. He spent much of the time, like always, trying everything to save it, only to be forced to let it go. It seems like a minor detail, but that alone creates a bit of separation from all of the other Marvel movies. There have been few superhero films in the past decade that have had the kind of complex conclusions as Ragnarok.
After seventeen installments into this money-printing machine, it's telling that the Marvel flicks most worth watching seem to be ones that they allow the filmmakers to inject some of their personality into. Part of why Guardians of the Galaxy stood out was the personality of James Gunn working its way in. It's a shame we'll never get to see what Edgar Wright would have done with Ant-Man, but Taika Waititi's fingerprints are all over Ragnarok.
The comedy is pretty great, the action is awesome, and the score is - finally - something to praise! Cate Blanchett might not get enough screen time for as menacing as she is (it would be fair to say she is one of the better Marvel villains to date, just as it would be fair to admit that doesn't mean much, and she still isn't super memorable). Essentially, they turned Thor into one of the most entertaining films in the Marvel library. It might not really be in the spirit of the character in a modern sense, but it's great at what it does.
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