While the MCU has struggled with some of its Phase 4 films to elicit the emotional response we had to earlier ones, fans have been looking forward to Thor: Love and Thunder thanks to his fresh perspective shown off in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, which managed to combine humor and heart for a standout entry. Now, the first reactions to Thor: Love and Thunder are here and it sounds like more of the same–for better or worse. But mostly better.
#ThorLoveAndThunder is absolutely electrifying. My favorite #Thor movie of the four.
Taika Waititi through and through. It’s mature, the soundtrack rocks, and there’s great surprises. So much fun.
Feels like the best of MCU Phase 1 and Phase 4 in one entry. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/3SO5yoy6j0— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) June 24, 2022
Another classic Thor adventure! #ThorLoveAndThunder is everything I wanted it to be. Big, colorful, weird Guns N’ Roses-fueled battles to go w/ a hopelessly romantic story about discovering love in unexpected places. Christian Bale & Russell Crowe are especially great. And Korg! pic.twitter.com/fu0gTUuMRj
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) June 24, 2022
holy shit. #ThorLoveandThunder is the perfect blend of taika at his best with comedy and a punch to the gut all in one. i left this movie emotionally satisfied while also sobbing and just perfection. we stan a dad rock soundtrack. in the words of my new favorite characters: AHH pic.twitter.com/MytduVq89h
— it was rachatha all along (@RachelLeishman) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is the GREATEST movie Marvel has made so far! I’m not joking. I haven’t laughed that hard since Ragnarok and I feel invested in Marvel again in a way that I haven’t since Endgame. Also, bring tissues. The journey is *chefs kiss* from start to finish!❤️ pic.twitter.com/bJYVxCJoQS
— Lyra Hale 🔜 SDCC (@TheAltSource) June 24, 2022
Most of the criticism in these initial reactions focuses on the film’s stylistic similarity to Thor: Ragnarok and the fact that you can’t have the same thing be new and fresh twice. Even many of those, though, praise the performances of the principal cast, as well as the visual design and humor from Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman alike.
However, you can’t be that breath of fresh air twice, so you need to up the emotional connection to the characters and the plot. See the Guardians movies. #ThorLoveAndThunder tries but can’t quite hit it, and comes across as weirdly restrained, which is a shame. pic.twitter.com/KhE13qEc7x
— Kaitlyn Booth (@katiesmovies) June 24, 2022
I saw #ThorLoveAndThunder. It can’t quite match the visual or comedy bombast of Ragnarok, but Taika Waititi makes up for it with an emotionally mature Marvel movie. It’s also very funny (Natalie’s got jokes) and features one of the most stunning visual sequences in MCU history.
— Jake (@jacobkleinman) June 24, 2022
#ThorLoveAndThunder is the funniest film in the MCU. The jokes are excellent as is the cast delivering them.
Christian Bale, obviously, is also terrifying as #Gorr
BUT, the plot felt flat and stakeless. Not sure if that’s a #Thor problem or an MCU-without-a-big-bad problem. pic.twitter.com/G6XP9EyL0Y— Eric Italiano (@ericitaIiano) June 24, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters on July 8.
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