'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2' Is Full Of Delightful Surprises

Remember the unlikely group of colorful space rogues from the first "Guardians of the Galaxy"— Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (voice of Bradley Cooper) and Groot (voice of Vin Diesel)? Well, they're back for the sequel — after the 2014 megahit made a whopping $772 million worldwide. Also returning is writer-director James Gunn to tell their continuing adventures.

In “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” the motley crew is now a team of galaxy protectors, called Guardians. And the saga picks up a few months after the events of the first film.

Before long, the space heroes find themselves on the run after Rocket Raccoon swipes the power source of a planet, which they were supposed to be protecting. While repercussions arise, the team stumbles upon Ego (Kurt Russel), who claims to be Star-Lord’s father. In the process, he offers Star-Lord and his crew a refuge — sounds like too good to be true, doesn’t it?

Whereas the first film introduced moviegoers to the physical dimension of disparate characters, the second film takes a closer look into their emotional connections. Among them are Star-Lord’s daddy issues, Drax’s sadness and the traumatic childhood of sibling sisters, Gamora and Nebula (Karen Gillan).

In the second installment, Gunn has managed to recapture the magic of the original film with funny characters, crisp one-liners, terrific action choreography and a very eclectic soundtrack. Nevertheless, for all its wit, raucous energy, and sheer fun, the movie's run time (136 min) still feels a bit too long.

All in all, make sure to go see “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” which is wildly imaginative and full of surprises, including the five post-credits scenes. Oh, and let’s not forget the adorable Baby Groot. He, too, is worth the admission ticket.

Watch the official "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" trailer:

Top Photo Credit: The European launch event of Marvel Studios' 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.' at the Eventim Apollo on April 24 in London. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Disney)