MCU Phase Four has received a hugely divided reaction from the fans since its commencement with WandaVision in January last year. The show received unanimous acclaim from fans and critics with praises directed at its eccentricity and refreshness. And Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch emerged as a real deal in that one. On the other hand, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow was the first theatrical release of Phase 4. The movie gave a solid and confident start to the fourth phase despite messing up the Taskmaster’s arc in the superhero franchise. However, some of the recent MCU products have triggered a lot of fans. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor: Love and Thunder is one of those products as well.
All the fans put their complete faith in Taika Waititi for Thor 4 after the Academy Award-winning helmer hit the ball out of the park with Ragnarok. We believe it is safe to say that the director’s trademark and unique blend of humour and drama did not work in ‘Love and Thunder’. Tonal inconsistencies and a pretty straightforward screenplay turned out to be the film’s biggest adversaries. Although, Christian Bale and Natalie Portman bestowed standout performances as Gorr and Mighty Thor respectively.
One of the biggest problems MCU Phase Four is facing these days is its inability to match the magnificence of Infinity War and Endgame. These two Marvel extravaganzas caused the fans’ expectations to go through the roof for future MCU entries. And we cannot blame the fans for craving more superhero entertainment.
Also, the majority of Phase Four entries seem more director-driven than the projects related to Phase 1-3. Almost every movie in the first three phases strictly follows Marvel’s traditional ‘action plus humour’ formula with just enough innovation and utilisation of the directors’ vision. This scenario must have forced Marvel Studios to think out of the box and trust its helmers more than before. However, the results are not so promising. Chloe Zhao’s Eternals is the lowest-rated MCU movie (47%) on Rotten Tomatoes by far. And Sam Raimi’s Multiverse of Madness had its moments. But the side effects of its underwhelming plot can be seen throughout the film. And now, we have Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder. No denying that the movie treasures plenty of jaw-dropping visuals and exhilarating action sequences. But its frustratingly short runtime never lets it soar high.
Thor: Love and Thunder is running in theatres worldwide. It stars Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Jaime Alexander, Russell Crowe, and many more. Stay tuned for more updates.