Wick's Review

Summary - Very Good 3.5

Norse mythology – vainglorious and a bit fussy – isn’t everyone’s cup of grog. Yet it inspires a marvelous comik movie. Just this side of campy in the opening reel, Marvel’s latest proves gracious and charming by the middle, then thunderously thrilling in its climactic battle sequences.

Most of the film takes place in the supernatural realms of the Norse gods. These spectacularly realized fantasy settings provide a legitimate grandeur that hard core fantasy fans will love. As a casual fan, I was plenty happy to go along for the ride.

Three strong leads give the movie real heft, especially Chris Hemsworth as the arrogant Thunder God himself and Sir Anthony Hopkins as his wizened father. Ably directed by Shakespearean master Kenneth Branagh, this ersatz Shakespearean movie doesn’t rise to the transcendent level of Iron Man, but easily rises high enough to please comik movie fans and perhaps even a few of their parents.

For those of us who grew up with Thor, it’s a wonderful reunion with an old-school hero.

Secret Tip - Most Marvel movie fans know by now to stick around past the closing credits for an Avengers teaser. Nick Fury wants YOU!

Acting - Very Good 3.5

Chris Hemsworth wields the hammer as if to Asgard born. Dashingly arrogant in the early going, charming and noble in the latter reels, he ably looks and acts the part of Scandinavian God.

Natalie Portman – the moviestar of the moment – matches up well to him as a thoroughly modern woman swept off her feet by a supernaturally studly old-fashioned guy. Upon finally seeing him in his full Thunder God regalia, she asks if this is his normal look. He nods. She blurts “It’s a good look!”

Most notable amongst the rest of the cast is Anthony Hopkins as Thor’s demanding father Odin. Hopkins knows how to play King.

Others include:

• Tom Hiddleston often looks vaguely ridiculous as Thor’s conflicted brother Loki, a risk every actor takes wearing a cape. This one doesn’t pull it off.
• Stellan Skarsgård as Portman’s fellow scientist. Nice to have a Swede in a movie about Norse mythology.
• Kat Dennings as Portman’s cheeky assistant.
• Clark Gregg as the head S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Understated and funny, Gregg’s Agent Coulson gets better each time he appears in a Marvel movie.
• Ray Stevenson as one of Thor’s warrior posse. Stevenson is always great as a randy soldier.

Stan Lee cameo alert: He’s the guy who asks “Did it work?” after gunning his pickup truck to pull Thor’s hammer from its pedestal.

Film - Very Good 3.5

The film earns several legitimate laughs, mostly by placing an Earth-bound Thor in mundane human settings. So we get Thor in the diner (“This drink… I like it! More!” Smashes the coffee cup.), Thor in the pet shop (“I need a horse!”), Thor before getting tasered (“How dare you threaten the son of Odin with such a puny weapon!”).

Edge - Tame 1.5

Reality - Fantasy 4.1

Thor is more elemental to our day-to-day life than most realize, one day more than the other six. Thursday literally means Thor’s Day. Dude’s got his own day, every single week. Huge.

3 Comments

• Wick Jul 31, 2011 9:43AM

  Regarding Spaceghost’s Review
  Fantasy is “an astrophysicist as pretty as Natalie Portman.” :-)

• Wick May 15, 2011 5:31PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  Yeah, I’m sure you’ll like it BigD.

• BigdaddyDave May 14, 2011 2:45PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  Sounds like a good one! I’ll have to check it out.

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