I think what I'm growing to understand is that when I review an MCU movie, I'm also judging the MCU and the particular fit between movie and universe. To some extent, one has to, I guess, as it's hard to write a book review on one chapter. It weighs me down because there's something that inherently bugs me about the fit between THOR's interdimensional bollocks, THANOS' world-ending finger-snapping, and IRON MAN's initial grounded DARK KNIGHT-styled approach to hero storytelling.

However, in an effort to keep the blinders on and solely comment on this chapter, I'll say this. LOVE AND THUNDER is pretty good. It's silly and not all the comedy lands for me, but mostly it's just irreverent fun. If nothing else, Taika Waititi is having a great time, and he is the best example of a writer/filmmaker whose own storytelling spin comes through onscreen. In an effort to cut ties with MCU for the sake of his chapter, Waititi spends ten or fifteen minutes cutting ties with StarLord and Groot. Once he does, he musters up a story which marries comedy to tragedy in a surprisingly fun fashion.

Screaming goats and weapon-weapon-warrior love triangles are actually quite amusing. Waititi is having fun, and for some reason the powers that be over at Disney and MCU trust him as an auteur to the point where he can tell pretty much whatever superhero tale he'd like. Is he the goose that lays the golden eggs? Not sure. He's on a role, but if Waititi has a critical and/or at least a partial commercial bomb, how short will his leash be? Hopefully, Waititi falls back and pursues a smaller, personal project next.

In terms of what we get in LOVE AND THUNDER, I can take or get rid of some of the comedy. And generally speaking, I'm not sure what I think of Natalie Portman--she doesn't always work for me. In my mind, pre-Oscar, she was mostly brilliant, but post-Oscar I find that she's been relatively hit or miss. I'm not sure what it is. As Jane and apparently THOR #2, I don't really understand her being a super-hero. Why? How? Maybe it was explained, but I don't really get it. However, as far as her character arc follows falling to a tragic illness, I'm for it. It creates a fantastic relationship dynamic and also serves as a parallel to what is happening with Christian Bale's Gorr--the God Killer.

Gorr is one of the better-written villains. LOVE AND THUNDER is not strictly about a giant climax with lasers, lightning, and CGI-generated locations--well, it is, but not entirely. The conclusion to Gorr's story as a character doesn't have as much to do with explosions and FX as it does to do with personal relationships, and his story actually enriches the Jane-Thor love story. It's really quite well managed. Waititi as much as he is a top-tier mischievous filmmaker, he firmly understands the human heart, and damned if his story will be clouded or diminished by silly MCU stuff.

It's my feeling that Waititi has his core story about love and loss, and everything else is just him having fun--some of it works and some doesn't. Russell Crowe as Zeus. Largely, I don't like this type of world-building, but damn if Crowe's upsized, alpha-male curtsy isn't funny. On the surface empowering a bunch of children with thunder power seems stupid and unnecessary--which it is--but at the same time, it feels like Waititi is saying, "Screw it. This whole brand is for the kids, so I'll turn a group of kids into little gods of thunder, and I'll have fun with it." I'm OK with all of this. LOVE AND THUNDER feels as if a filmmaker is having fun telling me a story and that I'm not being pandered to for the purpose of a greater universe as much as I usually am. I’ll add this, buried in here beneath the braun and quirkiness is not only a reasonably handled human story of love, but also a truly thoughtful, even provocative take on humanity’s drifting away from faith and religion. Gorr, is after all, a god killer. Disney would just as soon, MCU movies not be too thematically deep, but if they entertain and endorse marketable character, they won’t minded some high-minded thoughtfulness as long as it doesn’t screw up sales of the tie-in Lego sets.

So screaming goats, axe-hammer-god love triangles, and goofy Matt Damon (and other) cameos. Bring it on, so long as there's a kernel of care for these characters and the story of this chapter, I'm cool with it.
B