A Spectacular Spectacle! (spoiler-free)

Rating: 10/10 (4 November 2017)

I watched Thor: Ragnarok last night in IMAX at AMC Tyler 14 (Tyler, TX). Full disclosure: I'm a Marvel and DC comics fan as well as a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and DC Extended Universe (DCEU) fan (you can be both). At this point, it should go without saying it's essential the viewer suspend their disbelief prior to watching any of these comic book genre films. Otherwise, they'll likely walk away befuddled by not only the impossible feats but also the gross inconsistencies they'd just witnessed. In the same vein, and a perhaps a bit more difficult to establish, comic book fans need to suspend their understanding of comic book lore if they truly intend to appreciate the films for what they are. The comic book film genre covers characters that exist in all comic book eras from the golden age to the current. The story lines have vastly changed as have the characters. There are even factions of fans within the comic book realm that disavow certain eras. The films extract story lines and character relationships from all of these eras, but they do not duplicate, nor in many cases, even adapt these elements. If the films were ever to attempt to duplicate the comics, there would have to be a series for each era, in which there would be very few common threads.
That was a rather long apologetic.
While I tend to be somewhat antisocial, if not agoraphobic, Thor: Ragnarok lends well to being viewed in a theater among like-minded individuals. Now, this is not audience participation Ã la Rocky Horror Picture Show, but rather a little freedom to allow one's self to belly laugh at will. The word has gotten out that this film involves an abundance of humor, but it's not a comedy. Instead, the humor is used to disarm, and from the very beginning, allow the audience to relax and enjoy the ride. I'm not the first to compare Ragnarok to Guardians of the Galaxy, and that's for good reason. Of the 17 MCU films thus far, I pick out 4 that are outliers. These outliers don't deviate from the MCU cannon, but rather the mood and style changes. Of these outliers, Ant-Man was comedic and sleuthy. Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 1 and 2) were more heart than humor with admittedly some heavy-heart moments particularly in the second installment, and Doctor Strange deviated due to its magical and psychedelic component. Like GOTG, Ragnarok is light and humorous. Despite the nature of the villain and its implications, the film is essentially devoid of any dark, foreboding doom. Unlike GOTG, Ragnarok's humor isn't so well balanced with heart. In this lies its charm. Thor: Ragnarok is a spectacle. The fact that one of the advertised main events literally takes place in a coliseum, is no accident and should be taken as a big clue as to what you should expect from this film. The actors' performances are so interwoven into the story line, I'll refrain from revealing much detail as to avoid spoiling any elements. Some of these elements are highly dependent on the surprise factor. That said, I got more from Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, and Mark Ruffalo than I'd ever expected. Tessa Thompson is now on my radar, and although unlikely, I'd love to see her in a solo Valkyrie film. She could carry it. Then there's Jeff Goldblum playing, well, Jeff Goldblum. He's exactly what this franchise needed. That's all I say on that.
If you are even a casual fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, you'll likely enjoy this one. If Guardians of the Galaxy is higher and Thor: The Dark World is lower on your list of favorites, Thor: Ragnarok is certainly a must see for you. GOTG probably remains my favorite because it plucks all the right strings at all the right times. However, Thor: Ragnarok feels like the needed exhale preceding the impending Infinity War.