Movie Review: “Thor”

The Marvel incarnation of Thor brings me back to my first comic book purchase. After hearing about the massacre of major Marvel characters therein, I rushed out to buy “Infinity Gauntlet” #4. At the end of its cataclysmic battle, Thor took a moving stand against an unbeatable foe but was eventually demolished just like the rest. Of course, in comic books and soap operas, no one stays dead. Outside of those apocalyptic trappings, though, I found Thor to be a bit boring and self-important. So I never really returned to the character and, as a result, never developed the connection that I had with characters like Spider-Man or the X-Men roster.

In fact, most of the Avengers line-up went neglected during my comic book phase. So the film adaptation of “Iron Man” was as pleasant a surprise to me as everyone else. But surely that deck was stacked? I mean, though his popularity has waxed and waned, Robert Downey, Jr. has long been recognized as a solid actor. And director Jon Favreau was a steadily rising star even before that success. How good could “Thor” be? Especially in light of those underwhelming trailers?

Well, it turns out that someone at Marvel Studios knows what they’re doing after all. First off, let me apologize for doubting Kenneth Branagh. Somehow, despite being the perfect choice on paper to direct this project, the knowledge of his attachment to the project did nothing to alleviate my doubts. In addition to his career as an actor, he has a long history of adapting Shakespeare’s works in a manner that humanizes the grandiose. Faced with a similar challenge here, though with material a little less cherished, Branagh brings an almost operatic quality to the parts of the storyline set in Asgard. With its elaborate landscapes, shiny anachronistic architecture and characters decked out in impossible costumes, it’s something of a cross between something from the Star Wars prequels and corny ’80s fantasies like “The Neverending Story.” This sort of setting lends itself to self-serious buffoonery but, as he does with all such productions, Branagh manages to cut through the trappings and engage us in the human drama of the story, mainly provided by the sibling rivalry between Thor and his brother Loki.

Eventually, Thor’s arrogance gets him banished to Earth by their father Odin. If the actions of powerful beings in the cosmos hold the temptation for pretension, then these subsequent scenes of a god stripped of his powers learning what it is to be mortal hold an equally strong temptation towards self-parody. Branagh and his writers manage to mine the humor of the situation without losing sight of the larger consequences and quickly get the story back on course.

Script and director aside, you can’t dress people up in ridiculous outfits like these and expect your audience to buy it without a tremendous cast. As Thor, Chris Hemsworth is given a lot to play in his character arc, and he carries it off with a tremendous amount of charisma. Sorry to pick on the marketing team with yet another mention of the trailers, but they give no indication of how well he performs the role. Faring even better despite an even more ridiculous helmet is Tom Hiddleston as Loki. As written, Loki’s a surprisingly complex character for this sort of movie. More than just rising to the challenge, Hiddleston manages to court the audience’s sympathy even while carrying off his character’s devious plans. Anthony Hopkins and Rene Russo play their parents, Odin and Frigga respectively. Hopkins doesn’t disappoint but he doesn’t surprise either. Russo is unfortunately wasted in a role where she’s not given much to do.

Earth-side, Thor gets some help from scientist Jane Foster, played by newly-crowned Oscar winner Natalie Portman. I immediately thought: young lady in a superhero movie = damsel in distress. But luckily, Portman and her character have a little more spunk than that. A pleasant surprise comes from Stellan Skarsgard, playing Professor Erik Selvig, Foster’s mentor. He’s an actor I’ve long respected for his serious roles, but here he actually gets to have a few appropriately silly, and endearing, moments.

Many are wondering how the supernatural elements of “Thor” are going to mesh with the more down-to-earth fantasy of ”Iron Man” and the forthcoming “Captain America” when “The Avengers” brings them all together next year. The folks behind the movies have come up with an elegant solution to this question and it all boils down to tone. As in “Iron Man,” there’s a healthy sense of fun in “Thor.” Besides the presence of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from “Iron Man 2″ and few other plot connections, this overall tone helps connect the movies on a more intangible yet overarching level that make them feel like they occupy the same space. And with “Thor” kicking off this year’s summer blockbuster season, what better endorsement can I give it than calling it fun?

Special Note: Though I attended a regular screening, I have read a lot of complaints about the 3-D conversion of this film. Save yourself the $3 surcharge on this one.

This review will also be available in the print edition of “The Oak Ridge Observer,” available May 12th.