If you are expecting Thor: Ragnarok to be just another Marvel film, you will be surprised. Like me however, it will likely a pleasant one.

In what is an obvious nod the success of humor-laden Guardians of the Galaxy films, Ragnarok is loaded with laughs. We are not talking about the occasional cute line or facial expression we know and love from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU.) We are talking an all-out Guardians like comedy. And despite Hollywood’s habit of copying a good thing to its own death, it actually works with Thor Ragnarok.

Yes, there is a ton of great action. You get to see the most Hulk action since Mark Ruffalo took the helms of the green giant… and I, for one, love that. To see so much HULK SMASH in one place is just so much fun.

Chris Hemsworth got to really explore his comedy chops even further this go-round. He did a great job comically as well as from a heroic super hero standpoint.. Jeff Goldblum as the Grandmaster comes close to being too over-the-top at times, but he too, seems to make it work.

The story itself doesn’t get too full of itself. It is a good mix of original story without get so into itself (ala Blade Runner 2049) that it screws up the film. Sure, they take some liberties with the the Norse mythology on which this section of the MCU is based, but they do a really good job of making it work.

RATING 8 out of 10

by Chris Doelle

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