About the film (courtesy of Marvel Studios):
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

Thor: Love and Thunder is a well-thought-out action comedy with heart. Taika Waititi proves, emphatically, that Thor: Ragnarok (2017) wasn’t some sort of fluke that not only won over moviegoers, but also hooked the franchise’s main star, Chris Hemsworth, in that he’s more than eager to keep the legacy alive as long as Waititi sits in that director’s chair. This latest offering only cements the creative bond the two share, and we, the fans, are the ones that get to benefit.

We last saw Thor heading off to seek new adventures with Quill (Chris Pratt), Drax (David Bautista) and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy after the mayhem subsided following the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019). In Thor: Love and Thunder, Thor has returned with his latest God weapon, an ax called Stormbreaker, as he still continues to right the wrongs in the universe.

Director Taika Waititi has been blessed with even more incredible talent as Christian Bale and Russell Crowe are the latest two A-list accomplished actors to join the MCU. Bale gives an emotion-filled performance that deserves a calling-out. Even though his appearance may give you a little He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named PTSD, he completely slays his scenes as his sorrow, anger and indifference towards others rivals that of previous big baddie, Thanos.

Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman strengthen their chemistry as the bond between their respective characters evolves into something of a higher power. The story of Thor and Jane Foster is one with more complexity than you might think. It’s actually surprising that so much is explored over a relatively short 125 minute time period.

The pacing of Thor: Love and Thunder is brisk, for the most part. Even when it does slow down, there is a lot of information to process and toss around in your head. The colorful characters, fun soundtrack and a plot that keeps your interest, makes for a pretty agreeable experience that should make you eager to see what’s next.

I will say that the overt comedic moments, and also probably the frequency of which, will not be to everyone’s liking. For me, this is preferred times ten over a movie that swings to far towards the other end of the pendulum of seriousness. Thor: Love and Thunder may be the silliest, and I say that with absolute adoration, Marvel Cinematic Universe production to date. This one is pure “Waititi-wackiness” and I couldn’t be happier. After Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), I could use a little more lightheartedness.

Now that you’ve all probably seen Top Gun: Maverick (2022) at least once, based on the ridiculous box office numbers that it continues to pull in, maybe it’s time to shift gears and give another blockbuster a try. Thor: Love and Thunder provides everything one should be looking for in a summer release. Don’t allow procrastination or complacency ruin the opportunity to treat yourself some well-deserved big screen movie magic.

Thor: Love and Thunder is playing in theaters everywhere starting at 3:00 PM Thursday evening. Get your tickets now and remember to stay put through the entirety of the credits.