Hammer, Hammer, Who’s Got A Hammer

Thor: Love and Thunder 
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Jaimie Alexander, Taika Waititi, Russell Crowe and Natalie Portman
Director: Taika Waititi
Scriptwriters: Taika Waititi and Jennifer Kayin Robinson based on characters by Stan Lee
Composer: Michael Giacchino and Nami Melumad
Cinematographer: Barry Idoine.
Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Rating: PG 13 for violence, themed material and children in danger. This is really an adult film.
Running Length: 120 Minutes 

Unless you are a Marvel Comics fanatic, you will be lost by the names of some of the characters in this film. Not only that, the plot reminds one of a maze with people bouncing around the universe trying to catch the bad guy, Gorr, The God Butcher (and so, the violence begins.) You read that right, and Christian Bale has this role. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) reprises his role as Thor, God of Thunder and his Mighty Hammer?  Axe? Anyway, it is called “Mjolnir.” I miss Tom Hiddleston as Loki, but he was gone after the last film. 

As the haphazard plot goes, Asgard was destroyed. Thor’s hammer was destroyed…or not? Thor now has an Axe. Gorr and his daughter, *Love (the actress shall be nameless for the time being) are almost dead from a famine on their planet. A famous sword, the Necrosword, finds Gorr and persuades him to attack the Gods, as Gorr’s daughter has now passed away.  Out for revenge, Gorr goes after the Gods including Thor.  Along the way, we see that Thor’s love, Jane (Natalie Portman) is back with super powers because of chemotherapy treatment. (Writers couldn’t find something else?) Guess what, though, Jane is befriended by Mjolnir, and gains super powers. She claims the power, the hammer and name. There is also Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) to help, besides Korg and Russell Crowe as Zeus. They try to retrieve kidnapped children (actually the children of the film stars.). This is not pleasant. So, we have Gorr going against the gods, Jane, now known as Mighty Thor (plus hammer) and Thor with a new weapon, an Axe. Actually, the two weapons are jealous of each other. Figure that one out. 

Cinematography is always good in the “Thor” films, as is the music. “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017) was an interesting film, but this movie steps downward. Chemotherapy is out of place in this film.  That said, “Love and Thunder’ script tries to pack too much into the film. Several stories going on at the same time from Gorr on the prowl to Jane’s treatments to Thor on his trek to find kidnapped children.  There are many stars in the film that you will recognize either by voice or costume. There are Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone, Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park” films) and Luke Hemsworth to name a few. This could become a game of “who’s that?”  I enjoyed the first “Thor” films and hoped that this one would continue that, but it lacks continuity, has exceptional violence and an interesting plot. You always know someone will be chasing Thor. 

Acting is average and with all the special effects and costumes, you don’t need much dialogue. So. Marvel Comics fans, this is your film to watch and behold. Yawn. 

*” Love” is played by India Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth’s daughter. 

 Copyright 2022 Marie Asner