Rocking, riotous ‘Ragnarok’

Chris Hemsworth

Thor: Ragnarok” is easily the most fun among Marvel’s films about the Thunder God. It’s lighter in tone, brighter and unceasingly mirthful—finally. This third installment manages to play with its established lore and shine with long-missing humor, its comedy following in the footsteps of the first “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

“Ragnarok” puts Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) through the wringer by stripping away things that are essentially associated with him, so what we get is an altogether changed hero—a bold move, considering the fact that radical makeovers rarely happen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The film by Taika Waititi wastes no time in presenting the funnier vibe and a much-needed sense of urgency. With his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor learns of Asgard’s long-kept secret, and has to contend with not one, but two major villains: the deadly warrior-goddess, Hela (Cate Blanchett), and the eccentric cosmic gamesman, the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum).

Also back is the jade giant, the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), now the undisputed star of an intergalactic gladiator arena. “Ragnarok” merges separate storylines from the comic books, reuniting the gamma ray-powered Avenger and his Asgardian cohort in gut-busting fashion!

While Thor has been given less to do in previous “Avengers” movies, it is in this third solo film that Hemsworth truly shines, leading with a differently configured team ensemble, and looking refreshed with the change of pace.

And it isn’t just Thor who undergoes a crucial metamorphosis—Hiddleston makes a triumphant comeback as a wary trickster, who’s going through some welcome changes of his own.

The Hulk as a gladiator in “Thor: Ragnarok”

There are other new Asgardians like Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Skurge (Karl Urban), but it’s Hela who makes a grandiose debut—Blanchett wields her royal demeanor as she is wont to do, even when figuring in deadly skirmishes with her powerful enemies.

There are two extra scenes at the end—one significantly moving the plot forward, and another that’s inconsequential but still humorous—nicely capping off a snappy, thoroughly enjoyable popcorn movie that can easily be counted among Marvel’s most entertaining and colorful ones.