‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Review: Chris Hemsworth Brings Out Laughs, Film Ushers In Female-Dominated Era For The MCU

Thor: Ragnarok is Marvel’s last release for 2017 and the movie studio giant is already closing the year with a bang. Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor in the third installment of his movie franchise. The follow up to 2013’s Thor: The Dark World marks a strong comeback for Hemsworth, who is now equipped with an edgier haircut, updated uniform, and more clever jokes.

In comparison to the other standalone movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Thor films was more serious in tone, lacking Iron Man‘s spitfire wittiness and Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson’s adorably hilarious bromance in Captain America. But the changes director Taika Waititi has made to the look-and-feel of Thor: Ragnarok are evident—two films later, the audience now has a Thor movie with a lighter mood and a version of the God of Thunder who is both mighty and relatable.

Hemsworth as a comedian flows naturally. Fans have seen this in previous Thor and Avengers films, as well as in the short Comic-Con 2016 clip, where he acted out what Thor was doing while Captain America, Iron Man and other members of the Avengers gang were battling it out in Civil War. Finally, Hemsworth gives his best comedic performances in Thor: Ragnarok.

“Chris is a really funny guy,” Waititi told The Washington Post,“And he’s really taken ownership of the character.”

Thor: Ragnarok incorporated a lot of the elements that made other solo Marvel films smash hits. More particularly, it’s reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy and its tried-and-tested formula. For one, the film beefs up its soundtrack with iconic hits such as “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin and “In the Face of Evil” by Magic Sword. It’s not as diverse Peter Quill’s mixtape, but it still hits the mark in terms of using a high energy song to accompany epic battle sequences.

Unlike Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, which went all out with a record five post-credits scene, Thor: Ragnarok stuck with the traditional two. One of the Thor: Ragnarok post-credit scenes saw Thor, Loki, Valkyrie, Heimdall and Bruce Banner aboard a spacecraft headed for Earth. They are then intercepted by a ship, which Kevin Feige confirmed with The Wrap belongs to Thanos, the main villain in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War.

As with every Marvel release, Thor: Ragnarok introduced new characters some of which may well be utilized in future MCU films. Valkyrie is the breakout star in the film. Portrayed by Tessa Thompson, Valkyrie is introduced as the first bisexual character in the MCU. Cate Blanchett’s Hela, as Marvel’s first female villain, also did so tremendously that you’d want an encore of her performance. The addition of Thompson and Blanchett to Marvel’s roster ushers in a more female-heavy era for the superhero franchise.

Despite the now expanded world of Thor and the big-name stars now attached to the franchise, Hemsworth nevertheless remains at the center of it all, holding his ground and commanding the show.

Marvel’s solo outings always ends in threes, and if this is indeed Thor’s last standalone movie, then he’s definitely outdone himself.

Thor: Ragnarok is now showing in theaters worldwide.

[Featured Image by Marvel Studios]