Marvelous Heroism in Spite of Chaos

“Thor: Ragnarok” is just as funny as it is thrillingNoah Sonnenburg The Santa Clara November 9, 2017Finally: a Marvel movie for everyone. Lighter and more welcoming than any of its predecessors, “Thor: Ragnarok” blew me away. Four years since the last Thor film, the franchise has changed, and all for the better. While the last two films in the series felt stern and unwelcoming at times, this third installment is clever, inventive and surprisingly wholesome.This dynamic movie teaches some important lessons while tying in enough physical comedy to give a young Chevy Chase a run for his money. By incorporating themes of fatherhood, rebirth and forgiveness, the most recent “Thor” positions itself as entertaining for all audiences.According to “Vanity Fair,” lead actor Chris Hemsworth reportedly felt “frustrated and bored” with his previous roles as Thor. He went on later to say about the franchise, “Tonally, we’ve just got to wipe the table again.” Many fans felt the same. The scripts of the previous films felt repetitive, forced and clichéd beyond all belief. This release suggests, at long last, that Marvel isn’t afraid to grow and develop. While Marvel’s films bring in billions of dollars each year, the growth illustrated in this release indicates that the company does care about the content they put out, and in turn, they listen to their followers and performers.And it shows. Across the board, “Thor: Ragnarok” has scored highly among critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film is “certified fresh” with a score of 94 percent, and Metacritic gives it a 74. This makes it the highest-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.The film opens on the God of Thunder himself, trapped in a suspended cage, seemingly breaking the fourth wall. He is suspended in a jagged, egg-like cage in an unknown location. He rattles on for some time, sentimentally harkening back to highlights of “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” In time, the cage opens, interrupting this monologue, and Thor plummets to the ground.His fall is halted by the chain wrapped around him, dangling him just feet from the ground. There, he encounters his captor, Surtur, who tells him he wishes to destroy Asgard. After escaping, Thor works to stop this apocalyptic prophecy. His efforts take him through all of time and space, reuniting with Asgardians and Avengers alike.This film gives Hemsworth’s Thor the showcase he deserves. For the character alone, this film shows Thor not just as some utterly clueless, ancient god. His wit and sincerity in this film put some substance behind the man himself. Every other line is clever, but not overwhelmingly so. His comedic chops are sharp and his ability to change moods at the flip of a switch is beyond commendable. Witty, endearing and emotional, this rendition of the God of Thunder is exceptionally executed and a sight worth seeing.“Thor: Ragnarok,” in some sense, is a follow-up to the “Avengers” and “Thor” storylines. On top of this, elements of the 2006 Marvel Comics release “Planet Hulk” are weaved into the story as we find the Hulk captured on a planet far from Earth. The delicate interplay of these other storylines makes the film incredibly enjoyable.The sole issue with the film, which also was its strong suit, was the abundance of humor. The dialogue of the film was not dull, but the humor at times felt heavy handed. This jocular God of Thunder seems to have lost his edge as a force of nature, now reduced to a hammerwielding teddybear. The volume of jokes also left little time for poignancy in the script, leaving the audience wanting more, emotionally. There were innumerable opportunities for a heartfelt moment, a new connection between characters or newfound love. All of these felt glossed over by the occasionally overbearing humor. Marvel needs to leave the brazen witticism to the Deadpool films.Despite its minor shortcomings, “Thor: Ragnarok” is everything a superhero should be. The story is highstakes, challenging and daring. The acting is engaging and humorous. If you’re bored by the run-of-the-mill action films of today, “Thor: Ragnarok” will be a welcome break from the norm. The movie is built for everyone, and everyone should see it.Contact Noah Sonnenburg at nsonnenburg@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.