Without Loki, Thor is nothing.
The point is hammered home quite early in "Thor: The Dark World," a sequel to "Thor" and a cousin to the latest "Avengers" film.
Because Tom Hiddleston is so good at conveying evil -- brother vs. brother evil -- we buy Thor's rather one-note persona. When big brother has to call on weaselly brother Loki, "Dark World" gets good and, basically, slides home, free.
With just another villain in the mix, it might have landed with a thud. But Hiddleston, one of the best new actors turning up in films today, gives Shakespearean-trained colleagues hope that this isn't all costume and muscle. He finds the inner drama and plays it to the hilt.
Not so Anthony Hopkins, who has become so hammy as Thor and Loki's dad Odin, it's about time he abandon the cloaks and daggers. He started all the mess, turning the reins over to Thor, which made Loki made and, now, finds him imprisoned so that the "good" son can take on some bad guys causing trouble for the nine realms.
Because "Thor" is steeped in mythology (mythology, quite frankly, that doesn't really matter), it has the ability to derail every time this new age Conan starts taking on the barbarians.
To help him keep the enemies (the Dark Elves) get something called the Aether, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) releases Loki and starts playing slash and conquer.
The only problem? Girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is back on Earth, discovering a wormhole that could bring the whole mess to her backyard.
Director Alan Taylor straddles the two worlds nicely, but must have been given a memo from Marvel execs that said he needed to 1) Reference previous "Avengers" outings; 2) Provide a tie to "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and 3) Find the humor.
He handles all three nicely, but quickly a template could develop that would neuter all of the company's superheroes.
Kat Dennings (one of TV's "2 Broke Girls") provides comic relief as Portman's sidekick. She works for laughs that ease some of the leaden mythology. Stellan Skarsgard does what he can, too. But much of this hinges on getting Portman to Asgard and into the clutches of her bestie's adversaries.
"Dark World" moves quickly (despite a slow, game-changing surprise that looks like the last reel of "Lord of the Rings") and humanizes Hemsworth -- no small feat.
But every minute it focuses on Hiddleston, "Thor: The Dark World" speaks softly but carries a big hammer. He's the force behind this franchise.
Long may he live.
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