Thor: Love And Thunder (2022) Movie Drinking Game
Down a Shot: for every kick-ass action sequence
Down a Shot: every time Jane/Mighty Thor spouts a new catchphrase
Down a Shot: every time the screaming goats make an appearance
Down a Shot: every time the screaming kids (Gorr’s hostages) make an appearance
By: Vidal D’costa (Two Beers) –
Thor, King Valkyrie, Jane/Mighty Thor, and Korg embark on a quest to battle the vengeful God Butcher Gorr in this loose adaptation of Jason Aaron’s Thor comic book series.
A Toast
The character dynamic particularly between Korg, Thor, Jane/Mighty Thor, and King Valkyrie hooked me in, and the ensemble of Chris Hemsworth, Taika Waititi, Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson share a natural and charming camaraderie that further enhances their endearing moments throughout the movie.
I also felt emotionally invested in Thor’s character arc as he attempts to grow from a childish and angsty god to someone who is more worthy of an ailing Jane, and Waititi’s efforts in incorporating a relatable and deeply human facet to the estranged couple by shedding some light on their domestic problems in the flashback sequences definitely didn’t go unnoticed.
The themes of love, kinship, human as well as godly imperfections, and shared experiences reign supreme here and they too are equally and beautifully delved into via the aforementioned character interactions, such as through the wholesome ‘I wanna feel shitty about you’ scene between Jane and Thor as they are en route to Gorr’s lair, the subplot involving Gorr and his daughter, and a fleeting yet poignant discourse on same sex love as well as grief between an inebriated Korg and Valkyrie.
As with any Waititi offering, there is a generous helping of comedy and I especially felt that the jokes and gags worked best when they were mainly relegated to scenes intended to expand upon or poke fun at the gimmicky nature of Thor and King Valkyrie’s new roles as brand ambassadors for the kingdom of Asgard once it primarily became a tourist hub, or later in sketching out the imbecilic nature of side characters such as the very unhelpful, orgy-loving ‘God Committee’ (more like ‘Goofball Committee’, amirite?) in Omnipotence City. Although in terms of jokes per minute, it doesn’t hold a candle to Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
The action sequences are well-choreographed, inject a much needed adrenaline rush, and are exciting to watch. The rousing background score and soundtrack comprising of 80s bops complement them. The movie is also a visual treat and as far as performances go, the main ensemble fits right at home in their respective roles, while Christian Bale definitely sent chills down my spine as the unsettling God Butcher.
Beer Two
Waititi’s storytelling unfortunately takes a beating here. All the repetitive verbal exposition crammed into the first half eventually did my head in and particularly feels jarring and out of place in a movie helmed by a filmmaker who, at least in his independent features, is more noted for adopting a more nuanced and visual approach to storytelling (think recurring motifs, juxtaposition, etc). While Korg’s soothing narration did help in dumbing down or compressing all the 9000 MCU films that came before Love and Thunder for a complete noob like me and also lent to the folktale-esque tone of the overall movie, it also does little to highlight Waititi’s uniqueness as a storyteller. It also results in a clunky and rushed pace.
There are still brief instances of Waititi’s penchant for ‘showing rather than telling’ in scenes such as Mighty Thor reverting to her ailing persona in the bathroom mirror or when parallels are drawn between the antagonist’s tragic ordeal with that of our hammer-wielding hero experiencing a similar personal loss, but ultimately Waititi doesn’t lean into embracing his potential to the fullest.
Verdict
In terms of storytelling, Thor: Love and Thunder may be a bit of a bummer (Taika, ya wanker, ya had one job!), but let me just say it has been a while since a commercial film has made me feel like a child again and this one had me grinning like a goofball, laughing myself silly, and hooting at the heroics. Surprisingly enjoyable, although side effects may include coming away with an unhealthy crush on both King Val and Korg.
