A Dumb byt Fun Superhero Flick

Rating: 7/10 (20 March 2019)

Marvel Comics has released a great number of films in the past few years. Some like Iron Man and Spider Man 2 have been downright awesome. Others, like Elektra and The Hulk, have sucked dishwater. Their latest offering, Thor falls somewhere in between, but is closer to a blockbuster than a bomb.
The basic story is that Thor (Chris Hemsworth), heir to the throne of Asgard, is banished to Earth by his father Odin for breaking a truce with the frost giants. Stripped of his powers, he must come to terms with life in the mortal realm, and his own limitations. More importantly, with help from astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) he must find a way home and stop the machinations of his brother Loki (Tom Hiddlesto. The story is mostly faithful to his comic book origin story, although there have been some major simplifications.
Purists may complain about the ease with which the destroyer armor is defeated or the reimagining of Bifrost Bridge, and I'm not sure why they made Hiemdal the gatekeeper black, except that they figured the movie needed a black guy. I also think that Asgard's visual look is too shiny and futuristic. I'd rather see a city of stone towers and battlements, and grand halls and longhouses. This Asgard looks more like the home of space aliens than Norse gods.
More serious is that even with the simplifications that have been made to the storyline, there's still too much material packed into the two-hour running time. An extra half hour, or maybe even an hour should have been added so that the movie didn't feel so rushed, and to provide more time for character development. And while we're on the movie's weaknesses, I must say that I doubt a government agency would free a man who had broken into a secure facility just because a local scientist vouched for him. Then again, this is a thriller, adapted from a comic book, so I should be expecting a fair amount of improbabilities.
What saves the film in large part is its excellent casting. Natalie Portman is charming and intelligent as always, although I felt her character wasn't given enough to do. Hiddleston is highly convincing as the scheming Loki, and I liked Anthony Hopkins as Odin, though I'm sure this was a walk in the park for an actor of his talent. It's Hemsworth who makes the biggest impression though. Thor is the role that he was born to play. Not only does he look the part, with his beard and his bulging muscles, but he perfectly captures Thor's earnestness and vitality, as well as his arrogance and stubbornness.
Which brings me to another of the film's strengths. These days, movies are filled with protagonists who suffer self doubt, or must let loose and trust their emotions. Now 'following your heart' and 'believing in yourself' aren't necessarily bad things, but they've become clichés in contemporary film. Thor has exactly the opposite problem. He far too self assured, and would rather take names and crack heads than step back and look at things rationally. He's cocky, he's reckless, and he gives no thought to the consequences of his actions. He reminds me of some guys I knew on the high-school football team. If he wants to save the people he cares about and claim his birthright, he'll have to learn humility, discretion, and mercy.
Another strong point is comic relief. The opening scene, in which the scientists run into, and tazer Thor, is hysterical. And I loved the part where the local hicks compete to see who can lift his enchanted hammer, while onlookers grill and knock back some brews. The action is also very good, especially the battle with the frost giants. And Stan Lee's obligatory cameo is perfectly timed.
Thor isn't as awesome as it could, and perhaps should, have been, but as a summer adventure flick, it works. I had a good time, and if Thor is any indication, I'm definitely looking forward to next year's Avengers.