This is a no-spoiler review of Thor: Love and Thunder. Let me get the goats out of the way. According to Norse mythology, Thor had a couple of goats that he liked to cook and eat – I’m thinking cabrito. After he had dined on their meat, he used his godly powers to bring them back to life. I, for the record, am a big fan of cabrito.
The story was written by Taika Waititi and collaborators. Waititi also directed it. He also appears in the movie as his rock character Korg from Thor: Ragnorak. Last but not least, Waititi is the movie’s narrator – telling the story of Thor’s glorious adventures from the outset of the movie until its conclusion. This movie has Taika Waititi written all over it.
This story puts Thor and his band of allies in conflict with a deeply wounded nemesis – Gorr, the God Butcher who has been chosen by an ancient artifact, the Necrosword, that is capable of destroying gods. King Valkyrie, Jane Foster, Korg and Thor face off against the God Butcher, and their adventure takes them to Mount Olympus where Thor hopes to raise an army with the help of his idol – Zeus. Things don’t really go his way, but that’s par for most heroic journeys.
Olympus has gods from all over – there is the god of Carpentry (Jesus, perhaps), the god of Dumplings (?) and the usual Olympian gods from whom we should expect to hear more in subsequent Thor movies, I think. The final conflict between our heroes and Gorr occurs at the center of the universe in a place called Eternity. How fitting, right?
Susan and I waited until this movie had been out long enough that most young folks had already seen it. Our patience was rewarded by a sparsely attended showing at our dinner theater – the Alamo Drafthouse. We had a pizza, a libation and a fun movie. Was it great cinema that will be remembered as one of the best 100 films of the century? Probably not, but it was a damn fine way to spend a couple of hours to see excellent special effects supporting a dramatic and humor-filled story with excellent dialog.
Would I see it again on Disney+? Hell yes, there are so many contemporary cultural references that I’m sure I missed a few. Besides, you never forget your first, and Screaming Goats! What more can I say?