REVIEW: Thor: RagnarokBy Quinn OxleyNovember 3, 2017Is it better than Thor: The Dark World? Definitely. Is it the best MCU film? Aaaaaaagggggghhhhhhh…

No. It’s not the best.

But that’s because we’ve been blessed with The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and both Captain America sequels. Ragnarok is not the best MCU film, and it’s got some fundamental problems that give it a pretty shaky foundation, but it is… (clears throat)... Hela fun.

So there’s this thing called Ragnarok. It’s the foretold end of Asgard, and it’s inescapable. Thor arrives back on Asgard after confronting Surtur, the brute force behind Ragnarok, only to discover Loki’s ruse and find himself thrust on a quest to escape a gladiator-esque world of warcraft and save Asgard - and all the other realms - from Hela and her hellish fury.

A quick survey of Rotten Tomatoes finds that none of the MCU films are certified rotten. Even with its current 93%, Ragnarok isn’t far in quality from the rest of Marvel’s heroes gallery.

And that plays out perfectly on the silver screen. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is one of its greatest strengths… and faults, but I suppose that depends on who you ask. Ragnarok is hilarious, keeping in line with the outrageous and often sarcastic humor of the rest of the MCU, but almost feels crowded with jokes.

The film also largely takes place far away from the main antagonist, which gives much of the film’s conflict an irrelevant feel, but it’s still fun to watch. I never felt bored, and despite a pretty campy feel and a disregard for convention, I was very entertained, so I can’t complain.

Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is much more sarcastic this time around; his character feels changed from previous installments. And Loki’s character seems a bit watered down, despite his interesting history. (But you’ll never hear me saying anything bad about Tom Hiddleston’s performance, because he really is a god. I’m not biased.) Tess Thompson’s Valkyrie is a fascinating new addition to the MCU, but the real femme fatale of the film is Cate Blanchett. Hela is a remarkable first female villain and likely one of the most memorable Marvel villains to date.

If you like Marvel movies, you will enjoy Thor: Ragnarok. Take a hint from the film itself and don’t take it too seriously, and you’ll have a grand old time.

Rating: 7.5/10

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