Late to the party

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ is the best of the Thor films

I’m not going to lie. In the same way James Gunn got me excited about “Guardians of the Galaxy,” I already wanted to love “Thor: Ragnarok”—largely because of the involvement of Taika Waititi.

Waititi, the New Zealander who cut his teeth acting and directing with friends on features like “Eagle vs. Shark” and “Boy,” as well as fan-favorite shows like “Flight of the Conchords,” broke out with 2014’s “What We Do in the Shadows,” a reality TV comedy about vampires navigating their unpopularity in a modern world. He graduated to serious critical acclaim with one of 2016’s best films, “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.” Both were upstart indie jewels that showed Waititi had carte blanche for his vision.

So in the vein of Gunn, Josh Trank, and Colin Trevorrow (“Guardians,” “Fantastic Four,” and the non-Marvel franchise “Jurassic World,” respectively) Marvel snatched up Waititi to helm a mega-budget, FX-laden, continuation of the Thor films.

Fortunately, it worked out.

After the events of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Ragnarok” picks up with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in a Bond-esque cold open, trapped by a demon who promises the death of Asgard in a prophesied tribulation called Ragnarok.       

Learning of the absence of his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), Thor returns to Asgard only to find his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) attending to the downfall of Rome. Odin’s absence has allowed the return of the Goddess of Death, Hela (Cate Blanchett) who is anxious to begin her dominion over the Nine Worlds of Asgard.

Waititi’s oddball sense of humor complements the character of Thor, a doofus who happens to be a God—one of the reasons Hemsworth, with his game comic timing and chiseled looks, was perfectly cast.

And like Gunn, Waititi channels his influences inside a stand-alone story that has larger repercussions in the Marvelverse. Hat tips to “Mad Max” and “Willy Wonka” (with Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster) and “Flash Gordon” pepper the plot—the middle act of which almost sidelines the threat of Hela to explore the “Planet Hulk” arc (after “Ultron” Bruce Banner goes missing for two years), culminating in a funny, borderline buddy-cop comedy where Thor assembles his own band of misfit badasses to save his world.

Thunderously crowd-pleasing it is. “Thor: Ragnarok” is the best of the Thor films, and in the pantheon of Marvel flicks it’s Top Three material—particularly after the flaccid “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”

I’m not sure how much any of that means after a decade of safe, serialized, streamlined Marvel hits. With the mad box office, they’ll probably try and give Waititi a “Star Wars” flick.

I hope he’ll say no and follow the path of David Gordon Green—not Rian Johnson.