Thor: Ragnarok Review - 9 Ups & 4 Downs

1. The Lack Of Pathos

If you're a fan of Taika Waititi's work, you know to expect more than just laughs - what the director does better than most is marrying legitimate belly laughs with cutting pathos that lands just as heavy an emotional blow.

That made him the perfect candidate for Ragnarok, as the story would no doubt require death and emotional turmoil as Thor struggled to find his place and save his kingdom. But the film just doesn't have that sort of trademark Waititi sadness to it.

Even when devastating things happen, they lack the poignancy of scenes like the funeral scene in Hunt For The Wilderpeople. And that pathos is called for - especially in the opening act - so the lack of emotional balance is a little frustrating, particularly when it's nailed on that some cynics will say it's way too happy to tell jokes frivolously.

With that, and the action feeling a little undercooked, Ragnarok feels a little lightweight (again, the comedy defines that too), and how you feel about that sort of balance will definitely dictate how you feel about it generally.

Are you looking forward to seeing Thor: Ragnarok? Share your reactions below in the comments thread.