The characters are still fun to be around, the one-liners are still sharp, and some of the action scenes are cut like glossy MTV-style music videos. But the scrappy, raggle-taggle charm of the core team of heroes has worn off this time around. It’s satisfying, but it never flies.

This film does provide answers to the existing questions, but its current conflict fails to match up to the first instalment.

The first film focused on bringing the group together, while this sequel makes audiences understand why the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ are such a big deal on a cosmic level. The repercussions of their actions here will be felt on a much grander scale, setting up Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the process. Needless to say, it’s an absolutely essential and thoroughly enjoyable spectacle to watch!

Despite its most obvious flaws, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 entertains. Kids will love Baby Groot as will the adults. Fans will have a field day gawking at everyone from Howard Duck to the Watchers. And need we mention Stan Lee, too? It’s a Marvel film, after all! Strap on your seatbelts and go along for the ride.

Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 is not as good as the first one. Entertaining in parts; this one loses out on a purpose to make it unmissable.

There is a bunch of well-conceptualised action sequences that are outrageous in design and fun to look at. The climactic final 30 minutes are punctuated by strong, emotional moments – between Quill and Ego, between Gamora and his sister Nebula, between Yondu and everyone else – that add to the stakes and thus give the audience enough to care about the characters’ fate. To put it simply, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a very well-made summer movie. It does not hurt your intelligence or trouble your eardrums. It is smooth, sexy and has an awesome mix for a soundtrack, obviously. What else do you want?

Funny in bits, visually entertaining on the whole…

Make no mistake, the film delivers as far as entertainment is concerned. Is it funnier than the first part? Yes. Is it better than the first? NO. The film double downs on everything, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t, in its favour. Watch the film for its charismatic cast, for the visual master piece that it is and for the non-stop humour it provides. The film is one down from its predecessor but still provides with loads of fun and entertainment.

It might be overstuffed, it may meander and stall at times, but Guardians 2 should delight returning audiences, Michael Rooker fans, and anyone savvy enough to appreciate Cheap Trick, Sam Cooke and Jay and the Americans.

The end credits promise – Guardians of the Galaxy Will Return, but if this streak of its storytelling continues, one is not sure if you’d be looking forward to it.

What Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ultimately is all about is family and the central human yearning to find its tribe. And while other superheroes may be busy saving the world and smashing buildings and entire planets to the ground, the guardians are just trying to find themselves and where they belong, saving the world along the way. And if you think about it, aren’t we all?