Ryan McNeil
When it comes to fantastical tales, equilibrium is key. Not only do we need a hero that is mighty-yet-vulnerable, but we also need a story that is epic and yet personal. It’s difficult to find this particular sweet-spot, which is where many efforts in the past have failed.
THOR is able to set the scales so that they balance beautifully, and that’s no easy feat when we’re talking about a hero that wears a winged helmet and wields a hammer.
THOR begins in a faraway world called Asgard. Centuries ago, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) led the armies of Asgard to victory over the Frost Giants of Jotunheim and since then Asgard has had Jotunheim under their thumb. Years later, Odin’s son Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is primed to succeed Odin on the throne of Asgard, but before his coronation can be completed, all hell breaks loose. The Frost Giants stage a sneak attack into Asgard, and while they are thwarted, Thor feels that Asgard needs to respond and leads a counter-attack that almost leads to war.
Furious with his son, Odin banishes Thor. He strips him of his unbeatable weapon – a hammer called Mjolnir – and exiles him to earth. When Thor crash-lands on earth, he is found by scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), her mentor Dr. Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and her assistant Darcy (Kat Dennings) who are tracking an astrological anomaly. They’re equally stumped by who he is and how he got there. However, not long after he arrives, S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up at Jane’s lab and confiscates all of her research. Thus, it doesn’t take long for the scientists to put two-and-two together.
As Thor and the scientists try to reclaim Mjolnir, Loki lives up to his title as the God of Mischief up on Asgard. Thor then finds himself tasked with trying to protect inhabitants of two different worlds, all while searching within himself for what it truly is that has made him the God of Thunder.
Of all the Marvel films we’ve seen to date – and I do mean all, not just the ones building towards next summer’s AVENGERS – THOR required the audience to take the biggest leap of faith. To date, what has helped the Marvel stories along is that while they are fantastical tales, they have all been set in our world. Blind lawyers, violent vigilantes, scores and scores of mutants…we bought into their stories because they were happening in cities we knew, and playing by rules we all have to play by. Now however comes the Marvel story that wants us to go to other worlds, and believe not just in heroes but in gods. Does it work?
The ultimate answer is “yes” and a lot of the credit for that has to go to director Kenneth Brannaugh and the screenwriting team of Miller, Stentz, and Payne. Together, the four men find the perfect balance of happenings on earth, and adventure on Asgard. As thrilling as the combat and conspiracy on Asgard is, it can get a bit heavy-handed. Not surprising: They’re gods after all, and therefore not the sort to be subtle. That’s where the escape hatch of earth can be used, and Brannagh & co. use it well. Everytime things on Asgard were getting a tad too heavy-handed, the film came back to earth.
What’s interesting is that back on earth, there isn’t much going on. Thor tries to get his bearings, reclaim Mjolnir (or “Mew-Mew” as Darcy amusingly calls it) and get back home. THOR is really one long character piece bookended with a bit of ass-kicking. This is a risky bet for a comic book film, but a bet that pays off thanks in large part to Hemsworth and what he’s able to bring to the character.
Hemsworth gets the tone of Thor just right. He’s badass when he’s in battle, charming when he’s not, and cocky through it all. He’s able to goof around a bit with the role, but not to the point where he discredits the entire character. He brings both the physical presence and the charisma for the part (elements that couldn’t have been easy to find in the same guy).
The unfortunate counter-point to what we get with Hemsworth’s Thor is what we have to weed through for Hiddleston’s Loki. As a god of mischief, Loki should be positively machiavellian…but in this movie he’s far from it. Part of that comes from his role in the film being a tad underwritten, and part of that comes from Hiddelston underplaying him. Of all the Marvel villains we’ve met to date, he feels like the least menacing…and considering what he can do, he really shouldn’t be. Hopefully both Hiddelston and Joss Whedon can get a better grip on the character before THE AVENGERS.
THOR takes us to the end of the galaxy and back and entertains us the entire time. It succeeds as a stand-alone film, a fantastical tale, and also as a boxcar on the Marvel Train that was set in motion three summers back. Best of all is the message that comes along with THOR: That true heroes know how to balance arrogance with humility, power with mercy, strategy with patience. THOR represents all of those characteristics splendidly – yet another manner in which it finds just the right balance.