Thor is back in “Thor: Ragnarok,” the third solo film for the Norse God.

This is easily the best of the three films, aided by a clever script that gives the title character a lighter side and the watchful eye of director Taika Waititi. As Marvel Universe films go, this is one of the lightest – but also one of the funniest.

“Ragnarok” finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a quest to save his home Asgard from a prophecy that implies complete annihilation of the planet. Thor races home to stop the prophecy, only to discover that his presence only speeds up the process. That leads to the return of his older sister Hela (Cate Blanchett), who is intent on taking her rightful place as heir to their father.

Hela banishes Thor and his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to a remote planet run by the eccentric Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), where Thor meets up with his old ally the Incredible Hulk and finds another link to Asgard – a female warrior named Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) – who can perhaps help him return home and overthrow Hela.

“Ragnarok” is easily the lightest in terms of tone of any of the three films. The tone shift allows Hemsworth to show a comic side that really enhances Thor’s personality. It’s a fun change that generates plenty of humor throughout.

Hiddleston continues to have fun as Loki, while Thompson brings a nice touch to her character.

Goldblum nearly steals every scene he is in, adding to the film’s many laughs.

Thor isn’t the only one who gets a little personality, with “Ragnarok” providing the best use of the Hulk today – giving the big green guy a goofiness we haven’t seen before (with Mark Ruffalo’s work as David Banner playing off that goofiness quite well).

Some might argue that Blanchett’s Hela doesn’t have much depth as a villain, but Blanchett is so delightful – having so much fun chewing the scenery – that any qualms are easy to dismiss.

“Ragnarok” is a very good stand-alone film in the Marvel Universe, but it also features some tie-ins with other characters that work quite well. (And an out-of-the-blue cameo early in the film played very well with the preview audience.)

Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost’s screenplay gets some of the credit for the tone shift – which feels more like a “Guardians of the Galaxy” film than a “Thor” movie – but anyone who is a fan of Waititi’s previous films “What We Do in the Shadows” and “The Hunt For the Wilderpeople” will recognize the director’s subversive humor throughout.

“Ragnarok” has Waititi’s fingerprints all over it (including the director voicing a supporting character that gets some of the film’s biggest laughs). It’s a welcome breath of fresh air to a franchise that – while successful – needed a new direction.

Here is hoping that we get more of this side of Thor and more of Waititi’s vision and humor in future Marvel Comic entries.

– To get Micheal Compton’s reviews of “The Killing of the Sacred Deer” visit his blog at bgdailynews.com/blogs/reel_to_reel or follow him on Twitter @mcompton428. Email him at mcompton@bgdailynews.com.

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston

Directed by: Taika Waititi

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive material

Playing at: Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: A-