Jane Foster Wields Mjolnir as Thor — and the Film Struggles to Justify Why She Should

Thor: Love and Thunder wants to be a big, loud, silly movie about gods and monsters and love. It mostly gets there, but the road is bumpy. The film hands the hammer back to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor after three movies of him being broken. This time he’s back, and he’s brought his ex-wife Jane Foster along for the ride — she picks up Mjolnir herself and becomes the new Thor. That twist alone would be worth the ticket price if the movie knew what to do with it.

Trailer, via Marvel Entertainment.

The Gorr Problem

The biggest problem is Gorr the Butcher of Sakaar, played by Christian Bale. He’s the villain, and he’s meant to be the driving force of the story. Instead he feels like a placeholder. His grief over losing his daughter drives him to hunt Thor, but the movie doesn’t spend enough time building that pain. We get the anger, but we don’t get the loss. The character is a great idea, and Bale commits to the performance, but the script keeps circling around him without landing anywhere.

“The camera gap is real but the battery is what will decide this.”

The Jane Foster Twist

Jane Foster becoming Thor is the film’s boldest move. Natalie Portman delivers a strong performance as a woman who has spent years chasing the man she loves and finally finds her own power. The scene where she lifts Mjolnir for the first time is genuinely moving. It’s a moment that could have anchored the whole movie. But the film doesn’t trust itself to sit with that feeling. It rushes off to the next joke, the next action beat, the next meme.

Taika Waititi’s Direction

Taika Waititi directs again, and his style is all over the place. There are scenes of genuine tenderness, like Thor’s reunion with his adopted father Odin, played by Ian McKellen. Then there are scenes of pure chaos, with Thor and the Hulk teaming up for a wild chase through space. Waititi clearly knows how to balance humor and heart, but here he loses control. The pacing sags in the middle act, and the third act leans too hard on spectacle to make up for it.

The Comedy Struggles

The jokes don’t always land. Some of the humor works — Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie has a sharp wit, and her chemistry with Hemsworth carries a lot of the film. But other attempts miss badly. The film tries to be funny in the way that Marvel movies usually aren’t. It doesn’t quite pull it off. The tone shifts from tragedy to farce to drama within seconds, and the audience can feel the strain.

The Ensemble Cast

The supporting cast is solid. Chris Hemsworth remains the best version of Thor we’ve seen on screen. His performance grounds the film even when the plot goes wild. Natalie Portman brings a quiet strength to Jane Foster, and the two actors share a believable romance. Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson, steals nearly every scene she’s in. She’s the reason the film holds together.

The Musical Numbers

Thor: Love and Thunder also includes a musical number, performed by Hemsworth himself. It’s a bold choice, and it lands better than expected. The song is a rock anthem, and Hemsworth sings it with surprising conviction. It’s a risk that pays off, even if it’s a bit odd. The film earns that moment through sheer commitment.

The Final Stretch

The final stretch of the film is a mixed bag. The climax delivers big action and some emotional beats, but it feels rushed. The resolution ties things up neatly, almost too neatly. The movie ends on a note of hope, which is a relief after all the chaos. It’s a satisfying ending, but it doesn’t leave much room for thought.

What Works and What Doesn’t

Here’s where the film succeeds and stumbles:

What Works

• The Jane Foster twist and her performance
• Valkyrie’s sharp dialogue and presence
• The musical number, surprisingly effective
• The reunion with Odin, tender and well-played
• Hemsworth’s grounded portrayal of Thor

What Doesn’t Work

• Gorr the Butcher, underdeveloped and overshadowed
• The comedy, inconsistent and sometimes jarring
• The pacing, uneven across the runtime
• The villain’s arc, thin and unresolved

Thor: Love and Thunder is a flawed but fun addition to the MCU. It takes risks, some of which pay off, and others that don’t. The film is at its best when it trusts its characters and its premise. At its worst, it’s a mess of spectacle and jokes. The final score: 5.7 out of 10.

Chris Hemsworth · Marvel · Natalie Portman · Taika Waititi · Thor