After a much-needed character revamping in 2017's successful Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is finally returning to the big screen for his character's fourth solo outing, Thor: Love and Thunder. Now the first reviews for the latest MCU flick are out, and it seems fans won't be disappointed if they temper expectations.
Following the events of 2019's climactic Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder sees the return of Chris Hemsworth as the God of Thunder while he is in search of inner peace this time around. However, when a new enemy emerges by the name of Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), Thor is forced to recruit new allies in order to prevent the Galactic threat from eliminating all gods.
Initial reactions following the Thor: Love and Thunder Hollywood premiere in late June hinted at the exciting story to come, but now with the embargo officially lifted, full reviews are giving fans an idea of what to expect out of the 29th MCU film, and it looks like most of them are leaning on the positive side. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently has a score of 72% with 81 reviews, while on Metacritic, it has an official score of 62 based on 35 reviews. With Taika Waititi returning to direct after Ragnarok, a film that would turn out to be a much-needed turn for the character that established him as one of the MCU's funniest and most likable heroes, it's no surprise that Love and Thunder is carrying over the same bonkers energy from its predecessor (even if the story this time around is a little more uneven). But if fans are loving the revamped Thor and are craving a well-rounded and creepy villain, they should not be disappointed with this film.
Here's what critics are saying about Thor: Love and Thunder:
Gizmodo (Germain Lussier)
"Thor: Love and Thunder is not nearly as cohesive or propulsive as Thor: Ragnarok, but it’s more ambitious and heartfelt...It can be a bumpy journey at times—but the destination is well worth the trip."
Score: Unscored
London Evening Standard (Vicky Jessop)
"Try not to compare Love and Thunder to Thor: Ragnarok. Judge it on its own terms and there’s a whole lot to love."
Score: 4/5
RogerEbert.com (Nick Allen)
"While it has too many familiar flourishes and jokes, this entertaining sequel is still a force for good, with enough visual ambition and heart in front of and behind the camera to stand on its own."
Score: 3/4
We Live Entertainment (Aaron Neuwirth)
"The result is a film that’s perhaps not as well-rounded as it needs to be, but certainly lively, colorful, funny, and a proponent of the idea that love conquers all."
Score: 7/10
Empire Magazine (Ben Travis)
"Weirder than Ragnarok, but incredibly sincere in its outlook, Taika’s Thor-quel is a big, beautiful blast. You’ll love it, and probably thunder it too. What a classic Thor adventure!"
Score: 4/5
While critics seem to think Love and Thunder may not reach the highs of Ragnarok, it seems Waititi has created a film that stands on its own and is one that continues to push the MCU into exciting new territories. Also, it's refreshing to hear, as Waititi has mentioned in several interviews leading up to Thor: Love and Thunder's release, that the film will also step away from the multiversal shenanigans that have been the center point in recent phase 4 projects. Spider-Man: No Way Home and obviously Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness focused heavily on the concept, as did Loki by introducing the multiverse to the MCU.
Other than following Gorr the God Butcher (Bale) on his mission to eliminate all gods in the universe, Thor: Love and Thunder will also explore more of Valkyrie's (Tessa Thompson) rule as the new king and showcase Natalie Portman's Jane Foster taking up the mantle of the God of Thunder. The Guardians of the Galaxy group will also play a smaller role.
Thor: Love and Thunder arrives in theatres on July 8, 2022.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic