‘Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2’ is a worthy follow-up

There’s plenty to say about sequels that don’t live up to their predecessors or bog down the storytelling by inserting too many elements, but there are a few exceptions that channel the same magic as the movies they follow.

For James Gunn and his 2014 space adventure darling “Guardians of the Galaxy,” there was a lot riding on the inevitable sequel—and he and his cast deliver something fantastic that will leave audiences cheering for more come the end credits.

Structured as the second of a planned trilogy about a band of misfit space mercenaries who become the self-proclaimed protectors of the galaxy, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" focuses on Peter Quill/Star-Lord’s long awaited meeting with his long-lost father, who turns out to be the celestial and living planet called Ego (played by the legendary Kurt Russell).

The sequel also sees the Guardians’ attempts at staying together as a team, as well as the consequences of their actions from the first movie affecting rivals and peers, including Star-Lord’s Ravager mentor Yondu and Gamora’s rebellious sister Nebula. Things between these respective family reunions get complicated when one of them turns out to be disastrous for the universe, forcing the Guardians and their allies to get their act together and save the galaxy once more.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" follows the first movie’s successful blend of humor, action, and hits from the 70’s and 80’s,  and turns things up a notch. I especially enjoyed Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista’s performances as Star-Lord and Drax, and more layers of character development are added for Michael Rooker’s Yondu, Karen Gillian’s Nebula, and new member Mantis (Pom Klementieff), whose innocent yet powerful empathic disposition adds more fun to the mix.

Gunn successfully weaves together a more than worthy follow-up to his interstellar superhero opus, and anyone who knows the beauty of Marvel Studios and their films can expect high quality from this film, possibly one of the best the Marvel Cinematic Universe has delivered to date. — BM, GMA News

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is now playing in theaters.