How Thor: Ragnarok turned the Hulk into an improv comedian
This past weekend, Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok became the studio’s 17th straight number-one opening, thanks to a well-established formula of heroic action moments, grand mythology, and evil entities eager to destroy the universe. The format fits the familiar pattern of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Ragnarok nevertheless stands out due to the unique comic sensibilities of director Taika Waititi. He doesn’t take himself — or superheroes — too seriously, and he heavily incorporates the kind of improvisational, character-based approach that he honed with indie movies like Hunt for the Wilderpeople and the improv vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows. The resulting movie is hilarious, irreverent, and totally unique.
But Ragnarok is also a...