Together, these two, along with returning Ragnarok characters Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the stone creature Korg (voiced by Waititi), must face Gorr the God Butcher, played with lip-smacking malevolence by Christian Bale.

“He seeks the extinction of the gods,” we’re told. After kidnapping Asgardian children and brandishing his powerful Necrosword, Gorr looks all set to bring the thunder, wreaking revenge on the immortals who turned on him.

So far, so Marvel, with an Avenger taking on an opponent fixated on domination. But Love and Thunder truly sparks when Waititi’s fingerprints are visibly smeared on the film, like with the talking bao bun they encounter, or the persistent use of Guns N’ Roses on the soundtrack, with Axl Rose something of a Greek chorus.

Korg is also the film’s narrator of sorts, recounting Thor’s travails and acting as a wry commentator on the action. At one point, seeing Thor naked and glancing towards his nether regions, he quips: “Looks like a shy courgette.”

There are some ripe cameos too – with the Guardians of the Galaxy crew kicking off proceedings, fighting alongside Thor. Matt Damon is back as the thesp on New Asgard who acts out Thor’s adventures. And best of all, Russell Crowe pops up as a playboy Zeus, the god who is in danger of Gorr’s murderous actions.

Less po-faced than past Avengers outings, Love and Thunder may not quite be the “classic Thor adventure” as Korg puts it, but it’s got an emotional core about finding the one you love – as Hemsworth’s beefcake discovers, there’s more to life than being a superhero.