Thor Love and Thunder reviews ‘Funny as hell’ – ‘Christian Bale best MCU villain in years’

Following Avengers Endgame, Chris Hemsworth’s Asgardian God is the first MCU superhero to get a fourth solo movie. After Taika Waititi successfully breathed new life into the character with Thor Ragnarok, it wasn’t long before the pair were teaming up again for Thor Love and Thunder. The new Marvel blockbuster sees Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster become The Mighty Thor, teaming up with her ex against Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher. The reviews have landed with 86 per cent positive at time of writing – here’s some highlights.

THE THUNDEROUS APPROVAL

Screen Rant
Thor: Love and Thunder is a return to form for the MCU: delivering a great solo story that is emotional, exciting, and downright funny as hell.

Daily Telegraph
Bale gives the series its best villain in years. He and Hemsworth make surprisingly natural screen partners, while Portman embraces the soap-operatics of her role…

Empire
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!

THE MIDGARD LEVEL

The Guardian
This is becoming a bit of a cul de sac – but that isn’t to say it isn’t still funny, and Thor still delivers a mighty hammer-blow, or rather axe-blow, of fun.

Digital Spy
Thor: Love and Thunder is the most entertaining Phase 4 movie to date, but its irreverent touch means that when it aims for the heart, it never quite hits a bullseye.

Beyond the Trailer
Like Doctor Strange 2, it seems there’s a lot missing, and the two famous Thor comic book stories – Gorr & Jane as Thor – aren’t done justice. But Hemsworth & Bale are SO GOOD, and Waititi so funny & at times moving, it’s still fun. Plus what an ending!

IGN
Thor: Love and Thunder is held back by a cookie-cutter plot and a mishandling of supporting characters, but succeeds as the MCU’s first romantic comedy thanks to Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman’s chemistry.

DON’T MISS
Tom Hardy’s Venom 3 announced by Sony PLUS Ghostbusters 5 and more [VENOM 3]
Thor Love and Thunder Easter Egg spotted in Spider-Man No Way Home [THOR]
Avengers Endgame director: ‘Iron Man had to die, not Captain America’ [AVENGERS]

THOSE WHO DEEM IT UNWORTHY

Hollywood Reporter
The movie feels weightless, flippant, instantly forgettable, sparking neither love nor thunder.

Bleeding Cool
Thor: Love and Thunder tries to make the Ragnarok lightning strike twice, but the movie ends up feeling restrained due to the lack of genuinely emotional moments and some baffling creative decisions.

Slash Film
A superhero film with tonal whiplash.

Thor Love and Thunder hits UK cinemas on July 7, 2022.