By Justin Taylor

The third installment of Marvel’s Norse-mythology-fueled franchise injects fun and character into a trilogy that was previously void of those things. Thor finally takes center stage as the character he was meant to be: a brash fool vastly out of his element.

The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) lost on Sakaar, a bizarre, colorful, yet dystopian junkyard planet where he is then enslaved and forced to fight in gladiatorial combat for the amusement of the planet’s ageless leader, the Grandmaster. Thor desperately seeks to return to his home, Asgard, to stop Hela, the Goddess of Death,  with the help of allies both old and new. Director Taika Waititi inserts the blend of quirky character moments and goofy improv dialog that he is known for, to varied effect.

Waititi’s comedic voice seems like a great fit for Thor as a character, making him the sort of fish out water that he should have been in the first Thor film, but some of these comedic moments break the tension of the film. Some of the characters are treated like jokes, for better or worse. Korg, the hilarious rock-like humanoid (played by Waititi himself) is a joke character used almost entirely for comedic effect, but still works because he is not put into an active character arc.

On the other hand, Skurge (Karl Urban) is wasted as a hot-headed warrior appointed as the villainous Hela’s executioner. He goes through an arc where he is stripped of his position of power, causing him to side with Hela. Skurge does very little besides listen to Hela spout exposition and be treated like a joke by the other characters and even the writers of the film. He’s given a rushed redemption arc, which while cool looking, feels hollow and forced.

The cast of “Ragnarok” has more chemistry than any of the players of the previous Thor Movies. Tessa Thompson (“Creed”) is wonderful as Valkyrie, a drunken Asgardian running from her past. Ragnarok also features the Hulk, returning to the MCU in full gladiator armor. The film sets up a new arc for the character that adds a new layer of depth to the rage monster. He plays very well with Thor and makes a surprisingly good fit for the movie.

“Thor: Ragnarok” is visually stunning and more colorful than some of the more recent entries into the Marvel Franchise. All the environments in the film are bold and interesting, especially when compared to the bland earth-tones of the previous movies. “Thor: Ragnarok” elevates the fun of Thor and makes him into a character that audiences will find more enjoyable and entertaining than before.

Rating: A