Benched

So, having recently tested positive for Covid-19 has more than put a dent in my semblance of a summer schedule for over a week. I think I had contact in Niagara-On-The-Lake during our recent Ontario vacation, the first such vacation in about three years. The virus is still out there and even though we were diligent, while many others went unmasked outdoors and in, we caught it. Coming through it even now, but this will take time. More to follow once I have more full recovered.

Thor: Love and Thunder: Big, loud, stupid summer-popcorn fun

I kind of dug Thor: Love and Thunder, particularly for the music. Let's just say that a character even names himself Axl.

Director Taika Waititi was clearly chomping at the bit to get this flick out and have fun with the toys he grew up with. He obviously had a blast, even including some fun queer representation (and polyamory) as part of the story.

Much of Love and Thunder is played simply for laughs and it carries a lively, over-the-top, self-mocking tone (particularly Thor's character) with some serious, heartstring-tugging drama at heart with a surprisingly complex antagonist and a beloved recurring character. The film doesn't jive well with other Marvel Studios film continuity in many ways, and not only because the tone is like Thor: Ragnarok on speed (or cocaine). But I think that's entirely forgivable because it's big, loud, stupid summer-popcorn fun. Imagine if Monty Python did super-powered space opera on a massive budget with a kick-ass late 1980's/early 1990's rock soundtrack.

The person I saw it with kept questioning it; I just strapped in for the ride and kept laughing and enjoying the surprises. Very entertaining summer fare.

P.S.: You get to see a ripped Chris Hemsworth shirtless if that is any enticement.