<i>Thor: Love and Thunder</i> is now streaming on Disney+. The fourth movie in the <i>Thor</i> franchise stars Chris Hemsworth as the titular Marvel superhero/god. Directed by Taika Waititi, it is a sequel to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/film-review-thor-ragnarok-taika-waititi-puts-the-comic-back-in-comic-book-1.670815" target="_blank">2017's <i>Thor: Ragnarok</i></a>. The film was released in cinemas on July 8, grossing more than $755 million worldwide, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2022. In addition to Hemsworth, Natalie Portman stars as Thor’s former love interest Dr Jane Foster and Tessa Thompson as King Valkyrie. Christian Bale plays the villainous Gorr and Russell Crowe stars as Zeus. Members of the Guardians of the Galaxy also make an appearance, including Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula and Pom Klementieff as Mantis. Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper voice Groot and Rocket. It's a love story first and foremost, with Thor still moping over Jane, the Earthly astrophysicist he previously split from. This “woman of science” we now learn has a life-threatening illness. With Thor’s home planet of Asgard no longer in existence, the film takes place in New Asgard, which is ruled by Valkyrie. This tranquil Norwegian town attracts tourists in their droves, with vendors selling merchandise such as "Infinity Conz" and actors staging a play of Thor’s adventures (which means another cameo for Matt Damon, as mischievous sibling Loki). But when Jane arrives, picking up Thor’s broken hammer Mjolnir, she transforms into the Mighty Thor, a development that is also written in the original comics. Soon enough, she’s projected into a battle with Thor, who seems slightly aghast she now has control of his one-time weapon, while he wields the axe Stormbreaker. In our review of <i>Thor: Love and Thunder</i>, we gave the film four out of five stars. "By now, Hemsworth could probably perform Thor in a coma, but there’s no sense he’s sleepwalking through the role. There’s a playful enthusiasm here, particularly in the scenes with Jane/The Mighty Thor, their chemistry is alive for all to enjoy," writes James Mottram. "If this is to be his last outing as the character, as he’s already hinted, then he’s going out in fine style — in a story that’s less about world-flattening destruction than it is about growing up, getting older and finding the one you love." Click here to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/2022/07/05/thor-love-and-thunder-review-taika-waititi-blends-humour-and-action-in-marvel-return/" target="_blank">read the full review</a>.
