…and only two of the women faint. Them, two men, and one faceless but probably male guard. It was fairly equal-opportunity. These are Greek gods, after all.
The obvious context I see is that Thor is so fit even other gods swoon at the sight of his naked body. It’s not high humour, but it’s not exactly opaque, and pretty much on-brand for this director.
If they ever bring in Hercules, that dude has a lot of work ahead to match Hemsworth’s muscles.
The “Yeeesss! We know each other; he’s a friend from work!” trailer for Thor: Ragnarok is one of the best trailers I’ve ever seen. And the trailers for Jojo Rabbit, while not fully capturing the pathos and understated ominousness of the film did a pretty good job of representing the tone of the humor. (“it’s definitely not a good time to be a Nazi.”).
I’m a little underwhelmed by this trailer but bear in mind that trailers are created by the marketing team and the director often has little control over them. It is not unusual for a trailer to contain scenes that are not actually in the film and totally misrepresent the tone of the movie. This one does seem like kind of a cheap laugh you’d expect from more of a Farley Brothers movie but it may just be that the film is still in production process and they don’t have a lot of material to work with to build a trailer, and that this scene may not even be in the actual film. Taika Waititi has an essentially spotless record as a director (of everything I’ve seen at least, including the episode he directed for The Mandalorian which I had otherwise grown tired of because Jon Favreau’s Star Wars: Edge of the Empire TTRPG game is surprisingly cliched and uninventive) so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Stranger
Well, yes, but I meant something more specific to this group of fainters. Thor’s companions, for example, are less affected. But the more likely reasoning is because they have to be awake to make quips.
Well, Jane has already seen it, and Valkyrie isn’t interested.
That explanation actually makes it even less funny.
Count me as another vote for this being a failed gag. Imagine for a moment if they had done the same gag with Jane? Yeah, not so much.
I think it would work better with, say, an Aphrodite character than with Jane. But that’s why I felt Valkyrie & Jane being unaffected made it less funny. Thor’s wiener being divinely and universally wonderful might be a little amusing versus just “A hot man! swoon”
I mean, hey, that’d be a great crime-fighting power! Nuclear terrorists? Invading aliens? Giant war robots? Show 'em your dong! Job done!
I don’t know what clip you’re watching, but in the one linked above there are four gorgeous women in the close-up - two on either side of the old dude who magics Thor’s clothes off. Every single one of those four women faints, plus some men on the edges of the group as you earlier (correctly) noted.
And whether it’s on brand for the director or not says nothing about whether it’s funny or interesting. Personally, I think it is cliche and too reminiscent of the kind of low humor in, say, Porky’s or Police Academy, but YMMV. I think a well-acted raised eyebrow or two, for example, would have been funnier.
You’re right, looks like I blinked and the two other women also fainted. Doesn’t change my point, though.
Also, really don’t see the relevance of their degree of attractiveness, but whatever.
Didn’t say it did.
Have you seen What We Do In The Shadows?
And I’d say it’s more the humour in History of The World Part I or Monty Python, myself.
MMV
Let’s just say that the trailer is being related to the kids by Korg, who may be an unreliable narrator. He would naturally try to cast his friend “in the best light.”
Well the director DID direct the scene, so…
Yes, and… ? I have no idea what point you are trying to make here, sorry.
Someone hired the actors, got the costumes, wrote, staged and shot the scene and did special effects. If not under control of the director, then who? So of course it is within his brand, or he wouldn’t have filmed it at all.
Even if he never intended to use it in the film, it’s out there, and someone added it to the trailer.
I believe you missed the old guy playing the harp in the background, who fainted as well. And call me juvenile, but I thought it was pretty funny.
It’s hard to recognize him with the big beard, long hair, and makeup, but that’s Russell Crowe, playing Zeus, king of the Olympians (and analogous to Anthony Hopkins as Odin for the Asgardians).
You’re juvenile.
I thought it was pretty funny too.
A fellow lightning guy!
Can’t wait for the inevitable lightning-off.
I’m wondering if, once Zeus discovers who Thor is, he will ask Thor, “Aren’t you the God of Hammers?” 
Is this where I point out that Korg is, in fact, the director? Being acted by Taika Waititi