Branagh's Thor is Just Okay

I went into Thor knowing nothing about the phenomenon outside the trailer that kept cropping up before every film I've seen lately. Thor appealed to me mostly because of my loyalty to Natalie Portman, my curiosity for this uncharacteristic directing project of Kenneth Branagh's, and my growing appreciation for the superhero film genre. I found the film to be unexpectedly funny, but ultimately slow, choppy, and uninteresting.

The film opens with the New Mexican science camp-out that from the trailer, focusing on determined physics genius Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), her intern Darcy (Kat Dennings), and her mentor Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard). Thor appears, having been banished from the realm of Asgard, and when Jane dramatically asks "Who are you?" the scene dramatically cuts to the title credits, followed by a long and boring flashback telling the backstory of Thor's realm. It is these shifts between Earth and Asgard that lack connectivity, and while the Asgard scenes are necessary to advance the plot, they are too fantasy-visual-effects-heavy to find relatable and too long and drawn-out to find interesting.

These ridiculous scenes contrast greatly to the fast-paced and witty Earth ones. Thor's clumsy adjustment to the unfamiliar world is effortlessly comical. The title role calls for a delicate balance between arrogant angsty battle dude and likable fish-out-of-water hero, and Chris Hemsworth pulls this off with a quirky sort of charm. Kat Dennings also deserves credit for much of the humor; whiny and dry, the character Darcy is a perfect match against Portman's serious scientist Jane. Portman herself provide some subtle comedy, and these vulnerably human moments strengthen her character. However, while she and Hemsworth have good on-screen chemistry, the romance between Thor and Jane is unconvincing, relying too heavily on viewer expectations for the superhero to fall for The Girl.

While the characters are likable and the actors are superbly cast, Thor lacks the cohesion necessary to make their actions urgent and important. It's enjoyable to watch, but difficult to develop any emotional attachment to the characters and their stories, largely because the plot is so predictable. This film is a mellow opener for the Summer of Superheros, leaving plenty of room for improvement.