Children are often a plot device, with tropes like Child in the refrigerator or Child in distress. And often Marvel forgets that their movies are actually watched by parents *and* their children. Not in Love and Thunder.
We are given those two tropes but then, the children are given voice (in the form of Axl, but some other kids too), encouragement and quite literally the power to fight. They are allowed to say "we are scared" and "we are children". When the big bad comes to speak to them, he is just menacing but never touches them, never even comes close (he did have a daughter their age after all).
And they fight the way children fight, some aggressively and more hero-like, but some like princesses and faeries. It makes adults smile but what would it feel to be the kind of little girl who likes princesses to see yourself defeating a big bad by being a playful princess?
It is heartwarming and funny to see how a child uses their teddy bear as a weapon because we all know teddy bears protect us when we sleep and make us feel safe in unknown environments, but isn't it the same Thor does with his weapons?
It is an ongoing joke about Mjolnir and Stormbreaker that he speaks to them, treats them as people (and they actually react too, they have opinions), but isn't it the same thing children do with their favourite toys? Don't you speak with your doll? Doesn't it feel like she can understand you? The teddy bear scene would be mocking childhood innocence if it weren't for all the times Thor feels deeply about his toys (and well, if they didn't give it powers).
It is a movie for children, with teachings for children. It also shows you that you can be loved and accepted no matter what. Even the child in the refrigerator lives and has someone who cares about her.
And sure, there is mention of an orgy but any child invested in Greek Mythology has read worse (specially coming from Zeus).
So yes, making children a part of it all is my favourite thing about this movie. Only because of this, I think it's superior to many others despite its many flaws.
