Daft, almost parodic but with its own special charm

Rating: 6/10 (28 July 2018)

In a departure from the previous films in which Thor has featured, Hemsworth was required to reduce his stony-faced persona and stilted, prosaic delivery in favour of a more humanised, provincial persona. What worked well for the character as a marked contrast to the other heroes, is now conspicuous for adding at least dimension. It reduced his power overall in a film about a lofty Norse deity, but it is more fun for the masses. Also, Hiddleston and Hemsworth have marvellously prickly exchanges throughout.
More broadly, the film goes more for the sort of ironic humour that worked well for the Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool films, but it doesn't succeed quite as well here - except when Jeff Goldblum appears.
There are improvements on Dark World in terms of the editing - we see much more of the splendour of the visual effects, especially the mystical planets, and the final sequence of the fiery giant is very impactful.
The film ramps up the talent stakes and theatrical absurdity with Cate Blanchett, but despite her best, melodramatic efforts we don't get the same kind of tension as we did of a banished heir to the throne returning home in the original.
The director injects some New Zealand personality which characterises the film but the plot feels papered over with slogans and it feels almost like pantomime in parts.