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Thor:Ragnarok is a tangled mess of a film that can't decide what it wants to do. Heaps of fan service and attempts to be funny collide badly with a supposed massive destruction plot and a need to move a few more pieces into line for the upcoming Avengers movie. 2/5 stars for wasting so much potential.
Start with "you really can't do an end-of-the-world film as an Abbot and Costello slapstick movie." Well, you can, but what you get is a slapstick movie where things that are trying to get you to take them seriously end up looking weird and out of place.
The movie is just rife with 12-year-old humor. Dick jokes, anus jokes, titter titter naked, Daffy Duck-esque physical comedy, on and on. I really felt sorry for Tessa Thompson who is doing her best to infuse a character with depth and emotional conflict amid the juvenile humor. Not only did Marvel execs cut the scene that would have established her character as bi (apparently over her and the director's objections) she doesn't even get a real name. "Valkyrie" is a generic role and there is plenty of opportunity to establish her as an authentic named person. But that would've required getting serious, which this movie simply can't.
From here this review slides in and out of minor spoilers; I can't easily separate them because my problem is structural with the film as well as with the characters. I felt this film easily competes with GotG 2 and Ant Man for Worst Marvel Movie Yet. See it for the fan service or if you're compelled to see everything; otherwise, don't.
( OK let's get down to specifics )
Apparently my problem is that I have consistently too-high expectations.
Start with "you really can't do an end-of-the-world film as an Abbot and Costello slapstick movie." Well, you can, but what you get is a slapstick movie where things that are trying to get you to take them seriously end up looking weird and out of place.
The movie is just rife with 12-year-old humor. Dick jokes, anus jokes, titter titter naked, Daffy Duck-esque physical comedy, on and on. I really felt sorry for Tessa Thompson who is doing her best to infuse a character with depth and emotional conflict amid the juvenile humor. Not only did Marvel execs cut the scene that would have established her character as bi (apparently over her and the director's objections) she doesn't even get a real name. "Valkyrie" is a generic role and there is plenty of opportunity to establish her as an authentic named person. But that would've required getting serious, which this movie simply can't.
From here this review slides in and out of minor spoilers; I can't easily separate them because my problem is structural with the film as well as with the characters. I felt this film easily competes with GotG 2 and Ant Man for Worst Marvel Movie Yet. See it for the fan service or if you're compelled to see everything; otherwise, don't.
( OK let's get down to specifics )
Apparently my problem is that I have consistently too-high expectations.
