Next month, comic book fans get a double whammy at the multiplex. Even with a hot new trailer, the jury seems out on “Justice League,” however, almost from the first moment, the sense was that “Thor: Ragnarok” was going to be something special. Marvel made a clear shift from the more serious “Thor” and “Thor: The Dark World” by hiring Taika Waititi, a director who is best known for his comedies like “What We Do In The Shadows” and “The Hunt For The Wilderpeople.” And it looks like he’s taken that spirited approach and applied it to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The film has now screened, quite early, for some critics and the reaction is almost overwhelmingly positive. In what will certainly be a stark contrast to “Justice League,” the word is that “Thor: Ragnarok” puts a premium on laughs. Even more, if you’re looking for some kind of major connection to “Avengers: Infinity War,” you’ll have no such luck, as the film is apparently a standalone. To summarize it in a word, “Thor: Ragnarok” is fun.
See for yourself when it opens on November 3rd.
Thor: Ragnarok is just plain fun. It's hilarious from start to finish with quirky performances & exciting action. Tessa Thompson is the MVP. pic.twitter.com/7GyYG4IZZ5
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) October 9, 2017
#ThorRagnarok was an absolute BLAST! Hysterical and seriously kick ass! Also @taikawaititi is a riot!
— Jenna Busch (@JennaBusch) October 9, 2017
Loved ‘Thor: Ragnarok’. @TaikaWaititi did an awesome job. Movie is loaded with his trademark humor. Laughed beginning to end. pic.twitter.com/kfROuqSyVe
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) October 9, 2017
Thompson is great too, a subversion of the "bad-ass" female action figure. At its best, #ThorRagnarok has an occasional GHOST PROTOCOL vibe.
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) October 9, 2017
#ThorRagnarok is a ton of fun! Self-contained MCU plot, but character work is awesome, and the adventure a thrill. Best of the Thor movies! pic.twitter.com/tQ8DuCcwxM
— Evil Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) October 9, 2017
THOR RAGNAROK is hilarious & weird & offbeat & retro & sublime. Love how Marvel let Taika Waititi make a movie that's Waititi-ish as hell.
— Kevin Polowy (@djkevlar) October 9, 2017
#ThorRagnarok is laugh out loud funny from start to finish. Stumbles a bit in the first act, but it triumphs when it gets weird with it.
— Haleigh Foutch (@HaleighFoutch) October 9, 2017
Take the fun Cate is having in THOR RAGNAROK, double it, and you get the fun Tessa Thompson is having. Swaggiest superheroine ever?
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) October 9, 2017
#ThorRagnarok is the best Thor movie BUT still think it’s really good not awesome. Hemsworth, Hulk & Tessa all great, though. And Goldblum! pic.twitter.com/rY6ItFzdjN
— Jim Voodooda (@JimVejvoda) October 9, 2017
#ThorRagnarok is SO much fun I almost can't take it. The best: Thor movie, Cate Blanchett scene stealing, Jeff Goldblum Goldblum-ing.
— Kara Warner (@karawarner) October 9, 2017
#ThorRagnarok is magnificent. They added so much humor that goes perfect w the action. @TessaThompson_x is Badass @MarkRuffalo is incredible
— Xilla Valentine (@BlogXilla) October 9, 2017
Btw, #ThorRagnarok is solid MCU fun. Great music, Blanchett is awesome, looks/feels like an 80's video game. Slight, but wholly entertaining
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) October 9, 2017
As for rest of the movie it may be divisive. I thought a lot was hilarious (if not too long) but felt like I was only 1 laughing at times
— Gregory Ellwood (@TheGregoryE) October 9, 2017
Jokes and characters are front and center to the action & drama. This will be the thing people will either love, or dislike, about the film.
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) October 9, 2017