Thor

When star Chris Hemsworth shows up on screen without his shirt and so muscle bound I literally heard women in the audience gasp, every cookie, piece of cake and scoop of ice cream that has passed my lips flashed before my eyes. Had I made all of the wrong life decisions? Or, should I send him a plate of brownies so Hemsworth looks as shlubby and chubby as the rest of us?

Hemsworth is Thor - the heir to the throne of Asgard who defies his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), and leads his merry band of warriors on an attack of their long time enemy, The Frost Giants. Odin has grown tired of Thor's arrogance and eagerness to engage in war, so he banishes him and his mighty hammer, from Asgard, leaving Thor's brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), next in line.

Now, nothing is what it seems as Loki learns a long hidden secret about the family, Thor is wandering around New Mexico trying to figure out what is going on, and Thor's buddies realize they must bring him home to save Asgard.

I know all of that may have made you feel like Thor is the geekiest of the geekiest movies of all time (so geeky Star Wars and Star Trek stuff it in a locker and give it wedgies on a regular basis), but, since it is part of The Avengers series, Thor is full of action, comedy and some top notch, Oscar winning actors like Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman to make it all feel more serious.

However, a new action hero has been born. His name is Chris Hemsworth, he has a big hammer and he knows how to swing it. Hemsworth handles every aspect of the movie as perfectly as you can ever imagine. He has wonderful chemistry with Hopkins to make the childish petulance and loving, bonding moments equally believable and interesting. He is funny and campy when needed to be, and resolute and dramatic when called upon. Overall, Hemsworth is just as charming and entertaining as Robert Downey Jr. has been in Iron Man.

Save yourself a few bucks because you don't need to see it in 3D, and some of the special effects need to be cleaned up, but Hemsworth proves he is ready to be the next big Hollywood star.

Stick around for the credits so you get the traditional Avengers surprise scene, and let's see if the eagle eyed among you catch the big cameo that occurs much earlier.

Thor is rated PG-13 for intense sci-fi action/violence.