THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER - 5 Huge Mistakes Marvel Studios And Taika Waititi Made With The Latest MCU Movie

Thor: Love and Thunder is by no means a disaster, but the movie makes some noteworthy mistakes, all of which could have quite easily been avoided. Here, we examine the blockbuster's biggest missteps...

By JoshWilding - Jul 20, 2022 12:07 PM EST

Filed Under: Thor: Love and Thunder

Thor: Love and Thunder debuted to surprisingly mixed reviews, which was somewhat surprising when Thor: Ragnarok remains one of Marvel Studios' most critically acclaimed blockbusters.

During its second week of release, the sequel plummeted by 68% at the domestic box office, an indication that fans are as split on the movie as critics. It's by no means a flop, but it's clear that mistakes were made. Between Thor's increased popularity and Waititi's solid track record, the God of Thunder's latest adventure should easily be soaring higher than Top Gun: Maverick.

So, what went wrong?

That's what we're taking a closer look at today as we delve into Thor: Love and Thunder's biggest blunders and missteps. Marvel Studios and Taika Waititi made some major mistakes with this movie, all of which we think could have been easily avoided...and hopefully, won't be repeated!

To take a look through this feature, all you guys need to do is click on the "Next" button below!

5. The Movie Doesn't Really Achieve Anything

The God of Thunder was put through the wringer in Thor: Ragnarok, and that continued in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. By the end of the latter, the hero appeared to make peace with failing to stop Thanos, but this movie takes him straight back to square one and leads us to believe Thor has spent all this time pining for Jane Foster.

It does mostly work thanks to those emotional time-travel scenes in Avengers: Endgame, but once all is said and done, Thor has overcome his feelings of sadness and become a "dad." That might sound like a big deal, but with Eternity used as a glorified MacGuffin here, we're not sure why we should care about a newly created character having that entity's powers.

Thor: Love and Thunder feels more like filler than an important chapter in this character's story, and it doesn't feel like this new status quo will make any real difference to the MCU. Valkyrie is also very much in the same position as she was at the start, and while we're excited to see Hercules in action, even that debut doesn't quite hit the mark after Zeus was made a punchline.

4. Too Much Of A Good Thing

Taika Waititi's comedic stylings usually work really well, and he deserves a lot of credit for essentially saving the Thor franchise with 2017's Thor: Ragnarok. However, his unique brand of humour might have taken this series back to square one as the endless series of jokes do Thor: Love and Thunder no favours.

Almost every serious moment is undermined by another gag, most of which really aren't very funny. The movie does a great job of establishing Zeus as an idiot, but takes it too far by having him appear like a credible threat in one scene, only to show him prancing down the stairs moments later. Even Jane Foster's cancer battle is punctuated with bad comedy!

Korg's increased presence is also an issue. Waititi's schtick is wearing thin, and if you can find any differences between this character and the one he plays in Lightyear, then you've earned yourself a No-Prize. Both behind and in front of the camera, it feels like Thor: Love and Thunder simply gives us too much of the actor and filmmaker.

3. Gorr Is A Bore

When Marvel Studios managed to convince former Batman Christian Bale to return to the superhero genre as Gorr the God Butcher, it felt like we were guaranteed a truly great take on this formidable villain. The actor certainly does his best, but with nowhere near enough screentime and a tonal clash with the rest of this movie, the character proves to be a disappointment.

Thor: Love and Thunder is such a balls-to-the-wall comedy that Bale occasionally comes across as parody, even when that's obviously not the intention. We know big scenes with The Grandmaster and Eitri were scrapped, but even if Bale hadn't let that slip, we'd still be convinced much of his work ended up on the cutting room floor.

The villain's plan only just makes sense, but it's hard not to wonder whether Axl's abilities were once used to better explain why Gorr would kidnap those children. Regardless, one of Thor's greatest comic book villains was handled awfully here, and it's going to take us a long time to forgive Marvel Studios for lumbering us with Malekith 2.0.

2. It's Becoming Hard To Take Thor Seriously

While we appreciate many of you didn't enjoy seeing the God of Thunder heading down a comedic route in Thor: Love and Thunder, we'd argue that it was the best possible move back in 2017. Thor had been hit-and-miss, while Thor: The Dark World's attempts to take the hero down the fantasy route just didn't work.

Something needed to be done, and the last two Avengers movies built on what Waititi started by allowing Thor to be funny and serious. Thor: Love and Thunder, however, makes him a full-blown goofball, riding Stormbreaker like a witch's broom, doing the splits, and generally coming across more gormless than God-like.

As a result, Marvel Studios is making it hard to take the hero seriously. There are some undeniably fantastic emotional moments in this movie, particularly when it comes to Thor's relationship with Jane. We'd have loved to see more of that, as it would have gone a long way towards ensuring the journey he's taken on resonated in a more meaningful way.

1. Shorter Runtimes Aren't Working

We're going to make another statement many of you may take umbrage with: Eternals did not deserve to be Marvel Studios' first and only Rotten movie (especially compared to the likes of Iron Man 2, Ant-Man and The Wasp, and, hell, Thor: Love and Thunder, to some extent).

The studio has definitely had something of a knee-jerk reaction to the negative response to Chloe Zhao's film, and, in particular, the common complaint that Eternals was too long. At over two and a half hours, we can't necessarily disagree, but Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder both being a meagre two hours can't be a mere coincidence.

Heading down the route of shorter runtimes is simply not the answer. The Doctor Strange sequel barely scratched the surface of the Multiverse, while this movie doesn't have time to do its characters or story justice. The whole thing feels rushed, with montages glazing over key plot points and a lot of story clearly left on the cutting room floor.

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Comic-Accurate Version Of Christian Bale's Gorr The God Butcher

Recommended For You:

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Awesome AVENGERS: ENDGAME-Inspired Take On Thor's Armor

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?

Want to contribute?

83 Comments

1 2 3

VictorAlonzo - 7/20/2022, 12:46 PM

Phase 4 is made to fail. This is a good way to create quality redemption products in the next round.

Problem is, they can make a movie about a queefing cantaloupe, and it'd make 700 million minimum.

On top of that, it'd also be backed by a digital mob of hacks who make you feel bad for not liking stupid shit.

TheyDont - 7/20/2022, 12:51 PM

@VictorAlonzo - A queefing cantaloupe? We already had that after Infinity War.

TheLobster - 7/20/2022, 12:57 PM

@TheyDont - nah Endgame was fantastic. Almost everything that came after it? Yeah - garbage.

CyberBishop - 7/20/2022, 2:00 PM

@VictorAlonzo - "queefing cantaloupe".. Ok you have peaked my interest..

tylerzero - 7/20/2022, 2:17 PM

@CyberBishop -

"Piqued."

TheyDont - 7/20/2022, 2:50 PM

@TheLobster - I meant Captain Marvel.

VictorAlonzo - 7/20/2022, 3:07 PM

@tylerzero - @CyberBishop -

VictorAlonzo - 7/20/2022, 3:08 PM

@TheyDont - 🎯🎯🎯

CyberBishop - 7/21/2022, 8:58 AM

@VictorAlonzo - My objective has been obtained.. thank you

PicolasCage - 7/20/2022, 12:49 PM

I never liked Ragnarok as much as most, especially shit like Korg joking about Asgard getting destroyed.

Can Waititi stop picking dark, badass Thor storylines and then ruining them with cringey slapstick comedy?

This movie was like GotG -> GotG 2. Director makes a movie that receives a lot of acclaim for breathing fresh air into the MCU with quirky, irreverent humor. Then they are given free reign to write the sequel by themselves and crank the cringey humor up to 11 and completely go off the rails

Origame - 7/20/2022, 1:01 PM

@PicolasCage - yeah. It's not like Thor doesn't have plenty of goofy adventures to draw from. But his experience with gorr effected Thor to the point he completely lost faith in himself, similar to what happened with Thanos in the mcu. This should be a bit more serious.

VictorAlonzo - 7/20/2022, 1:20 PM

@PicolasCage - 🎯

Desrow - 7/20/2022, 12:52 PM

@RorMachine @JoshWilding

Cavill is back?

https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1549793456779821057

Origame - 7/20/2022, 1:02 PM

@Desrow - I hope so. I'll burn the jj Abrams script and we'll just never talk about that. Then put him in the batman universe and pretend the dceu never happened.

DudeGuy - 7/20/2022, 1:05 PM

@Desrow -

Atticus - 7/20/2022, 12:53 PM

I would personally disagree that every MCU needs to 'achieve' something within the larger universe. I quite like the idea of more films being isolate provided the character evolves. In fact on paper I even quite like Thor's arc in L&T; learning to accept love into his life again after the loss he's gone through, even if that love means more loss i.e. Jane. I think him being willing to foster child could take the character to an interesting next step and echoes the theme of letting Love into your life despite the risk. That said the execution of all this didn't really work well for me - felt rushed and flippant. Plus his starting point felt like a devolved version of the character.

Origame - 7/20/2022, 1:03 PM

@Atticus - your description of his arc in l&t is literally his arc in endgame. Nothings changed.

TheLobster - 7/20/2022, 12:56 PM

Only 5? You’re missing like 15 other huge mistakes.

Phase Four is straight up trash for the most part. Marvel needs to greatly rethink their plans if this is how it’s going to be going forward.

Quality > quantity

Also never hire Taika ever again plz. I know he’s doing a Star Wars film but I don’t care - that IP died for me thanks to Disney & Kathleen Kennedy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

CAPTAINPINKEYE - 7/20/2022, 1:01 PM

this is what's wrong with this movie. Thor should not be a comedy.

PC04 - 7/20/2022, 1:03 PM

Also I need to know one thing. How does Korg's have a Mom that has a Boyfriend if all Korg's race are dudes?

Origame - 7/20/2022, 1:07 PM

@PC04 - nobody said they all identify as dudes, you bigot! /s

n1ghtw1ng2832 - 7/20/2022, 1:04 PM

According to who?

CyberBishop - 7/20/2022, 1:59 PM

@n1ghtw1ng2832 - Josh and his alts

AnthonyVonGeek - 7/20/2022, 1:08 PM

For me the MCU has become like ordering fast food. It’s not as good as it used to be, cost is going up while the quality is going down and I leave mostly unsatisfied but for some reason I keep going back for more.

darkboy - 7/20/2022, 1:53 PM

@AnthonyVonGeek - perfectly said

1 2 3

Related Headlines

Deadpool

10 Romantic Superhero Movies You Can Watch With Your Significant Other This Valentine's Day

MarkCassidy

Feb 14, 2024 03:02 PM

Sci-Fi

Taika Waititi's KLARA AND THE SUN Adaptation Reportedly Eyeing Jenna Ortega For Lead Role

MarkCassidy

Jan 05, 2024 07:01 AM

Thor: Love and Thunder

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Comic-Accurate Version Of Christian Bale's Gorr The God Butcher

JoshWilding

Jan 03, 2024 09:01 AM

Related Headlines

Deadpool

10 Romantic Superhero Movies You Can Watch With Your Significant Other This Valentine's Day

MarkCassidy

Feb 14, 2024 03:02 PM

Sci-Fi

Taika Waititi's KLARA AND THE SUN Adaptation Reportedly Eyeing Jenna Ortega For Lead Role

MarkCassidy

Jan 05, 2024 07:01 AM

Thor: Love and Thunder

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Comic-Accurate Version Of Christian Bale's Gorr The God Butcher

JoshWilding

Jan 03, 2024 09:01 AM

Thor: Love and Thunder

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Awesome AVENGERS: ENDGAME-Inspired Take On Thor's Armor

JoshWilding

Dec 24, 2023 05:12 AM

Thor: Love and Thunder

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER's Natalie Portman Would Love To Return To The MCU As Jane Foster

MarkJulian

Dec 17, 2023 12:12 PM

THOR 5: Gareth Edwards Responds To Rumors He's Being Eyed To Helm MCU Sequel

Thor: Love and Thunder

Spider-Man

CHALLENGERS Director Addresses Surprise SPIDER-MAN Easter Egg In Zendaya's Romantic Sports Drama

JoshWilding

13 hours ago

Star Wars

THE ACOLYTE: New Stills Released As Showrunner Talks Mystery And Paying Homage To George Lucas

JoshWilding

13 hours ago

Latest Headlines

Video Games

NetEase Announces MARVEL RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details

MattIsForReal

7 hours ago

Spider-Man

CHALLENGERS Director Addresses Surprise SPIDER-MAN Easter Egg In Zendaya's Romantic Sports Drama

JoshWilding

13 hours ago

Star Wars

THE ACOLYTE: New Stills Released As Showrunner Talks Mystery And Paying Homage To George Lucas

JoshWilding

13 hours ago

Avengers: Endgame

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

MarkCassidy

14 hours ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Rumor Reveals Variant Who WON'T Appear As More Post-Credits Scene Details Emerge

JoshWilding

15 hours ago

X-Men '97

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Tells Fans To Watch These X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Before Finale

JoshWilding

16 hours ago

Hot Headlines

80 comments

RUMOR: Marvel Studios Interested In NOPE Star Keke Palmer For A Major MCU Role

MarkCassidy

2 days ago EST

75 comments

Michael B. Jordan Channels BLADE In First BTS Look At Ryan Coogler's Untitled Vampire Movie

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

68 comments

MCU Rumor Round-Up: AVENGERS 5 Characters, Galactus Casting, Scrapped PHOTON Series, And More

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

68 comments

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

MarkCassidy

14 hours ago EST

63 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

DC Studios Boss James Gunn Reponds To Demands For A JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED Revival

More Cartoons & Animated ►

MARVLE RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details Revealed

More Anime & Manga ►

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES Features A Cameo From ANOTHER Member Of THE SANDMAN's Family - SPOILERS

More Horror ►

MONKEY MAN Exclusive Interview With Mask Designer Eddie Yang; Dev Patel Film Now Available On Digital HD

More Action Movies & TV ►

WWE DRAFT: Night 1 On SMACKDOWN Brings A Couple Of Surprises But Little In The Way Of Major Changes

More Pro Wrestling ►

THE ACOLYTE Stills Highlight The Show's Lead Characters As Leslye Headland Teases An Epic STAR WARS Mystery

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER - 5 Huge Mistakes Marvel Studios And Taika Waititi Made With The Latest MCU Movie

Thor: Love and Thunder is by no means a disaster, but the movie makes some noteworthy mistakes, all of which could have quite easily been avoided. Here, we examine the blockbuster's biggest missteps...

5. The Movie Doesn't Really Achieve Anything

4. Too Much Of A Good Thing

3. Gorr Is A Bore

2. It's Becoming Hard To Take Thor Seriously

1. Shorter Runtimes Aren't Working

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Comic-Accurate Version Of Christian Bale's Gorr The God Butcher

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Awesome AVENGERS: ENDGAME-Inspired Take On Thor's Armor

10 Romantic Superhero Movies You Can Watch With Your Significant Other This Valentine's Day

Taika Waititi's KLARA AND THE SUN Adaptation Reportedly Eyeing Jenna Ortega For Lead Role

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Comic-Accurate Version Of Christian Bale's Gorr The God Butcher

10 Romantic Superhero Movies You Can Watch With Your Significant Other This Valentine's Day

Taika Waititi's KLARA AND THE SUN Adaptation Reportedly Eyeing Jenna Ortega For Lead Role

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Comic-Accurate Version Of Christian Bale's Gorr The God Butcher

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Concept Art Reveals Awesome AVENGERS: ENDGAME-Inspired Take On Thor's Armor

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER's Natalie Portman Would Love To Return To The MCU As Jane Foster

THOR 5: Gareth Edwards Responds To Rumors He's Being Eyed To Helm MCU Sequel

Popular Headlines

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Rumor Reveals Variant Who WON'T Appear As More Post-Credits Scene Details Emerge

Despite Original Actor Turning Down Role, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Will Still Feature A [SPOILER] Variant

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Merchandise Reveals New Promo Art With Logan Fully Suited-Up

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Tells Fans To Watch These X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Before Finale

MCU Rumor Round-Up: AVENGERS 5 Characters, Galactus Casting, Scrapped PHOTON Series, And More

NetEase Announces MARVEL RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details

CHALLENGERS Director Addresses Surprise SPIDER-MAN Easter Egg In Zendaya's Romantic Sports Drama

THE ACOLYTE: New Stills Released As Showrunner Talks Mystery And Paying Homage To George Lucas

NetEase Announces MARVEL RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details

CHALLENGERS Director Addresses Surprise SPIDER-MAN Easter Egg In Zendaya's Romantic Sports Drama

THE ACOLYTE: New Stills Released As Showrunner Talks Mystery And Paying Homage To George Lucas

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Rumor Reveals Variant Who WON'T Appear As More Post-Credits Scene Details Emerge

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Tells Fans To Watch These X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Before Finale

Hot Headlines

RUMOR: Marvel Studios Interested In NOPE Star Keke Palmer For A Major MCU Role

Michael B. Jordan Channels BLADE In First BTS Look At Ryan Coogler's Untitled Vampire Movie

MCU Rumor Round-Up: AVENGERS 5 Characters, Galactus Casting, Scrapped PHOTON Series, And More

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

KRAVEN THE HUNTER's Theatrical Release Has Been Pushed Back Yet Again

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

THE ACOLYTE Stills Highlight The Show's Lead Characters As Leslye Headland Teases An Epic STAR WARS Mystery

REBEL MOON 2 Is Netflix's No. 1 Movie Worldwide Despite Abysmal Rotten Tomatoes Critics AND Audience Scores

STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE Star Explains How Vernestra Rwoh Will Differ From Books; New Still Released

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Shares First Official Look At TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Animated Series

THE LITTLE MERMAID: Ariel Gets An R-Rated Makeover In First Trailer For New Live-Action Adaptation

STAR WARS: TALES OF THE EMPIRE Clip Sees General Grievous Attack Dathomir's Nightsisters

Cartoons & Animated Features

DC Studios Boss James Gunn Reponds To Demands For A JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED Revival

HERCULES Producers The Russo Brothers Reveal Where Things Stand With The Live-Action Musical

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Reveals Which X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Fans Should Watch Before Finale

X-MEN '97: Original Voice Actor May Have Just Spoiled Major Character Return In Three-Part Finale

TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Teaser Trailer Hypes Up Return Of Heroes In A Half Shell

X-MEN '97: Beau DeMayo Hints At Possible Appearances From BLACK PANTHER And SPIDER-MAN

Gaming

MARVLE RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details Revealed

New VR Game ALIEN: ROGUE INCURSION Announced For Holiday 2024 Release

KINGDOM HEARTS 4 Could Release Next Year, According To Insider

CLASH OF CLANS Developer Announces Global Release Date Of New Game SQUAD BUSTERS

Disney Reportedly Working On KINGDOM HEARTS Adaptation

FALLOUT Star Ella Purnell Reveals What She Wants To Explore With Lucy In Season 2

Anime & Manga

MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU'RE NEXT Sound Director Shares Promising Update On Upcoming Film

Next FORTNITE X MY HERO ACADEMIA Collab Could Add The League Of Villains

KAIJU NO. 8: RELAX Manga Spin-Off Announced; Set To Debut This June

BLACK BUTLER -PUBLIC SCHOOL ARC- English Dub Hits Crunchyroll Tomorrow

Classic Anime Sci-Fi Series GENESIS CLIMBER MOSPEADA Now Streaming On Crunchyroll

Bandai Namco Announces THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME Video Game Adaptation

Horror

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES Features A Cameo From ANOTHER Member Of THE SANDMAN's Family - SPOILERS

First Look At Michael B. Jordan On The Set Of Ryan Coogler's Untitled Jim Crow-Era VAMPIRE Movie

THEM: THE SCARE Exclusive Interview With Star Deborah Ayorinde On The Bone-Chilling New Season

THEM: THE SCARE Exclusive Interview With Singer/Actor Luke James On His Terrifying New Character

THE LITTLE MERMAID Attacks In First Trailer For New R-Rated Live-Action Adaptation

28 YEARS LATER: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Ralph Fiennes Officially Join Cast

Action Movies & TV

MONKEY MAN Exclusive Interview With Mask Designer Eddie Yang; Dev Patel Film Now Available On Digital HD

Tom Cruise's MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 8 Adds SEVERANCE Actor Tramell Tillman

A24's CIVIL WAR Was The #1 Movie In America For The Second Week In A Row

JAMES BOND: Henry Cavill Isn't Closing The Door On Playing 007; "Maybe I'm Too Old Now. Maybe I'm Not..."

Alex Garland's CIVIL WAR Is The #1 Movie In North America- Opens To $25.7M