In Ragnarok, Waititi, Hemsworth et al had a certain looseness that made for an entertaining hero movie that did not feel like one. Tessa Thompson drinking herself off an entrance? Gold. Thor hijacking Gamesmaster's ship (Don't touch anything")? Another gem. Love and Thunder certainly began with hope when Thor throws his cloak at the beginning of the movie, but by the third song recycled from the Appetite for Destruction album alone (there was no other hard rock band they could use in a hard rock themed movie?), the film was showing its wear and tear. That's not to say Love and Thunder is a bad film, since the cast is all staying true to character, the pace of the movie is on point, the colour, the design, the shade... Love and Thunder is in fact a sharp movie, but the film itself is handcuffed to way too much continuity that has to be answered to.
A god worshipping soul loses all faith when unanswered drought claims his daughter. Answering to a cursed sword's call to seek revenge, all gods are put on notice as they are starting to be exterminated. Thor, who returns to shape and spirit after his latest trials, has a target on his back as he holds something of value to this God Butcher.
What I do like about Waititi's approach in Love and Thunder is the use of the children. Say what you will about the climax (it's a superhero film, people), Waititi's movies have usually featured kids as the protagonist and Love and Thunder could have used more of their screen time, particularly with Gorr, or have them enjoying New Asgard. What we get instead are some very tiring cliches bogging down an already heavy film. In the face of cancer and abducted children, we didn't need to know Korg's mating rituals. Thor's romance over a former flame (not Jane) was also adding to unnecessary screen time. The key that made Ragnarok feels effortless was the successful banter between characters and parties that made the plot hold. Love and Thunder, though flashy and full of heart, misses that same effortlessness, making for a sometimes tiring watch.
A god worshipping soul loses all faith when unanswered drought claims his daughter. Answering to a cursed sword's call to seek revenge, all gods are put on notice as they are starting to be exterminated. Thor, who returns to shape and spirit after his latest trials, has a target on his back as he holds something of value to this God Butcher.
What I do like about Waititi's approach in Love and Thunder is the use of the children. Say what you will about the climax (it's a superhero film, people), Waititi's movies have usually featured kids as the protagonist and Love and Thunder could have used more of their screen time, particularly with Gorr, or have them enjoying New Asgard. What we get instead are some very tiring cliches bogging down an already heavy film. In the face of cancer and abducted children, we didn't need to know Korg's mating rituals. Thor's romance over a former flame (not Jane) was also adding to unnecessary screen time. The key that made Ragnarok feels effortless was the successful banter between characters and parties that made the plot hold. Love and Thunder, though flashy and full of heart, misses that same effortlessness, making for a sometimes tiring watch.