Every long running franchise has a "meh" episode or two, the kind of outing that's competently made and has its moments but ultimately doesn't belong on a highlight reel. Thor: The Dark World represents that chapter for Marvel's Cinematic Universe. There's certainly nothing radically wrong with the film; it functions on a level that superhero die-hards will appreciate, but when it's all over, one can't help but feel just a little empty and less satisfied than usual. Sure, it offers impressive big-screen spectacle and will make a lot of money, but we're probably going to have to wait until Avengers: Age of Ultron for that "wow" experience the genre now demands.
By setting most of the action on other planets, Thor: The Dark World neatly sidesteps that nagging question of "Where are the other Avengers?" Indeed, none of the major players are around; S.H.I.E.L.D. also gets a few passing mentions, but nothing more. Instead, this adventure concerns Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and company cleaning up skirmishes in the other realms. A Dark Elf named Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), one of the Asgardians oldest and thought-to-be-dead enemies, has his sights set on ruling all nine realms by way of dark magic called the Aether. When scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) comes into contact with this dark magic during a routine investigation of paranormal activity, Thor has no choice but to return to Earth, bring his former flame back to Asgard, and shield her from the advancing Malekith.
For some reason, Thor: The Dark World feels less like a Marvel outing and more like the lost Star Wars prequel episode. The similarities are too obvious to ignore; we have ship-to-ship combat, action on multiple planets, henchmen who behave a lot like clones/Stormtroopers, a villain with about as much character development as Darth Maul, and of course, Natalie Portman forgetting how to act. The movie moves at a brisk pace, but it feels disposable. Sure, many superhero films revolve around stopping some variation of Armageddon, but there has to be something unique about the story for it to stand out from the crowded pack. A great performance, an awesome visual style, social commentary, something. Thor: The Dark World has a few inspired moments (like a particularly hilarious "cameo" from another Marvel character and Thor's amusing reactions to modern-day London) but not nearly enough of them to justify a trip to the theater.
The decision to make Loki (Tom Hiddleston) a prominent supporting character is a wise one; his scenes are by far the most compelling in the film. The fascinating family dynamic between him, Thor, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Freda (Rene Russo) occasionally lifts the proceedings out of B-movie territory. If only the same could be said of the main villain. Malekith certainly looks the part of a menacing guy, but his motives are nothing beyond simple megalomania. Christopher Eccleston is given very little dialogue or dimension to chew on for this role and is largely wasted. Finally, while Chris Hemsworth is once again comfortable and commanding in the title role, he shares very little chemistry with Natalie Portman. By misfiring with the main villain and love interest, Thor: The Dark World digs itself a hole that it can never fully climb out of.
Director Alan Taylor (best known for helming episodes of Game of Thrones) certainly seems at ease with this material; the movie is always interesting to look at and contains a few genuinely eye-popping scenes (an Asgardian funeral, for example). Likewise, the one-on-one throwdown between Thor and Malekith is clever in how it shows the two combatants zipping in and out of time and space from planet to planet. On the whole, however, this is a generic adventure. Without characters we've come to care about in the first Thor and The Avengers, this wouldn't be worth seeing at all. As it is, Thor: The Dark World is moderately entertaining but really best served for completists. Non-die-hards can skip this chapter and wait for the next Avengers team-up without having missed anything terribly important.
Rating: **1/2 (out of ****)
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