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Do you ever watch a movie and think the script must have been only just completed the day of shooting? That's the impression - wrong as it is - that I had after taking in a 3D screening of Thor: The Dark World. This latest action extravaganza from Marvel Studios has a duct taped-together feel to it that makes the entire production come across as thrown together rather than based on a carefully constructed story.

 

Rules schmules, Thor: The Dark World plays by none and while at times that "we're making this up as we go along" vibe doesn't actually hurt the film, it does serve to create side-stories that go nowhere and only cloud the big picture.  Maybe it's because the simple story of Thor: The Dark World isn't all that compelling or maybe it's because this Thor only shows real sparks of life when the hammer-wielding god is going either physically or verbally supermano-y-supermano against his brother Loki, wherever the fault lies the end result is a sequel that does not live up to either Thor or The Avengers.

The Plot:

Life as everyone knows it hangs in the balance as Malekith (Christopher Eccleston in a thankless role of a villain who just isn't all that interesting) and the Dark Elves want to control the Aether in order to plunge the entire universe into darkness.  In order to command the Aether, the universe must be in alignment which only happens every 5,000 years, or something like that. The actual time frame probably popped up in one of the lengthy bouts of exposition spouted by a character, most likely sometime during the stagnant first half of the film, but it was lost to me over the course of the movie as other facets of the story flew willy nilly in and out of the film only to never be referenced again.

The Aether, for some reason, was hidden away on Earth and wouldn't you know it, none other than Jane (Natalie Portman) and her trustee sidekick Darcy (Kat Dennings) who now has her own trustee sidekick (even though what Thor:  The Dark World doesn't need is more supporting players) discover its location. Actually, a group of kids lay claim to the discovery but Jane's the one who figures out that there's something scientifically tricky about this weird spot on Earth where you can toss keys, shoes, cars, whatever into the air and have them appear a hundred feet away almost instantaneously. But, as they're quick to point out, not everything returns once it's tossed into the spatial anomaly.  Because they've pointed this out, you know it will come back to play a part in a major event that takes place later in the film.

So, Jane's got this investigation to do but who shows up on the scene after not even stopping in to say hi when he was last on Earth taking part in the Battle of New York? That's right: Thor.  Jane's still miffed that he didn't even bother to write or call, but, come on, this is Thor (Chris Hemsworth) we're talking about here so her anger quickly dissolves into longing looks accompanying coy smiles.  However, no sooner are they reunited on Earth than he's spiriting her off to Asgard where it's discovered she has the Aether in her, which is not nearly as enjoyable as having the music in you but does enable the Aether-infected Jane to unleash superpowers when she's threatened.

The clock's ticking and time is running out for our heroes who have to figure out a way to keep the Aether out of Malekith and the Dark Elves' control while forcing it out of Jane's body.  The solution, thankfully for audiences worldwide, is to call on Loki for help.

The Bottom Line:

Thor: The Dark World is a case of so many characters, so little for them to do.  Sir Anthony Hopkins and Rene Russo return as Odin and Frigga, Idris Elba's back as Heimdall the gatekeeper, Ray Stevenson and Jaimie Alexander return as Volstagg and Sif, and Stellan Skarsgard shows up pantless to once again fill the mad scientist role of Erik Selvig.  Each does have a few important lines to help explain/move along the plot, but in truth there's not much for any of them (other than Skarsgard) to do.  

With a tone that shifts all over the place, Thor: The Dark World can't seem to keep track of the plot and zings wildly all over the place, taking a scattershot approach to storytelling.  Fortunately for audiences, Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki have such terrific chemistry that they're able to rise above the material.  Their shared scenes rescue Thor: The Dark World, and that sibling rivalry is what breathes life into the film.  Their love/hate relationship is well played by both actors and seeing Loki and Thor bounce quips (and fists) off each other is what saves Thor: The Dark World from being simply a filler piece of the Marvel film mega-franchise.  It's not the Jane/Thor relationship that stirs an emotional response but the twisted brotherly love between Thor and Loki. That relationship is the heart and soul of Thor: The Dark World, and Hemsworth and Hiddleston's chemistry far outshines Hemsworth and Portman's.

As for the 3D, don't bother wasting your money on catching a screening in that format. The colors are actually less muted than you'd expect with the 3D glasses on, however I can't recall a single scene from the film that I felt benefited from the extra dimension.  It's not immersive and doesn't serve to enhance the fight scenes or the shots of interplanetary travel.

At what point will the powers that be at Marvel acquiescence and just give us what we want: a film with Loki as the central character? The answer is most likely never, but a critic/movie fan can dream, can't she?  Until then, if Thor is to have another solo outing without his Avengers buddies, it needs to be one that focuses on the tag team of Thor and Loki.

GRADE: B-/C+

Thor: The Dark World was directed by Alan Taylor and is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content.

Theatrical Release: November 8, 2013