Back in 2014, Marvel attempted their riskiest venture yet, releasing a film based on the little known superhero team – The Guardians of the Galaxy. When the film hit theaters it was a massive success turning characters such as Rocket Raccoon and Groot into household names. Now, with Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 blasting into cinemas are the ‘A-holes’ still able to bring back the old charm? The answer is most definitely – Yes.

In terms of the film’s plot, it’s a much simpler and personal story time time around for the crew of The Milano dealing with matters of family, but don’t worry, there is still a bit of Galaxy Guarding thrown in for good measure. It’s these family issues which are the heart of the film’s story, Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord learning the identity of the father who abandoned him and Zoe Saldana’s Gamora and Karen Gillan’s Nebula dealing with a serious case of sibling rivalry (Fun Game – Take a shot every time somebody says the word ‘Family’*)

With this much more personal story comes some great performances from the cast. Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill has one of the biggest emotional journeys throughout the film allowing him to go from the smooth talking outlaw to a man with the weight of the entire universe on his shoulders, something which Pratt is able to pull off believably.

Another standout amongst the cast has to be Bradley Cooper as Rocket. Despite only supplying the voice for the character, Cooper (and the incredible S/FX department) are once again able to craft a character who feels just as real as any of the other actors in the scene. The development of both Quill and Rocket’s arc is helped by the fact the film splits off into two separate plotlines during the films second act, with Quill, Gamora and Drax heading off with Quill’s Father Ego and Rocket and Groot being paired with Michael Rooker’s Yondu during a Ravager Mutiny.

The rest of the cast are also on fine form as the other members of the Guardians. Dave Bautista’s Drax, despite mainly being used as comic relief has a few emotional scenes with franchise newcomer, Mantis, played by Pom Klementieff. In those scenes Drax takes an almost father-like role to innocent character, further enforcing the themes of family found throughout the rest of the film. The family aspect is also played up in the character arc’s of sisters Nebula and Gamora. Whilst both characters are given opportunity to develop, it’s Nebula who definitely grows more as a character.

As many would have predicted from the moment we first saw him dancing along to The Jackson 5’s ‘I Want You Back‘ at the end of the last film, Groot was going to be the star of the show. Just looking at the adorable little bugger can’t help but make you smile. It’s a lot of these scenes which add an element of charm to already charming film. However the heart of the film has to go to Michael Rooker’s Yondu. Over the course of the film, the actor conveys such raw emotion that you can’t help but see him in an entirely new light.

In regards to the new characters to the franchise, it’s really Kurt Russell’s Ego who makes the biggest impact in the film – especially in some of the film’s latter scenes. It’s the villains of the piece that are somewhat lacking, something which seems to be a recurring issue in Marvel’s films. Elizabeth Debicki’s Ayesha and her Sovereign people offer less of a threat and more of an inconvenience to the titular heroes whilst Chris Sullivan’s Taserface is treated as a joke through much of his appearance.

Whilst on the subject of Jokes, those joyless souls who thought that the first was too heavy on the jokes are most definitely going to be put off by this film as well. Whilst most of the jokes are a hit, there are definitely some which are a miss. However the script written by director James Gunn and Nicole Perlman is tight with plenty of genuinely funny moments.

Gunn once again proves that he was the right man for the job of director, making the most out of his actors and script. His flair for visuals definitely shines through, with many of the scenes being an absolute treat for the senses, especially when viewed in IMAX 3D. His enthusiasm for the world he has created is evident throughout the film and as with any Marvel film, there are plenty of Easter eggs and references to be found.

Now, you can’t have a review of a Guardians of the Galaxy film without mentioning the soundtrack. Once again, Quill’s Awesome Mix accompanies the score, often times reflecting what the character’s are going through. Whilst not as iconic as Awesome Mix Vol. 1, each of the songs fit the feel of the film and I challenge you not to smile through the ‘Mr Blue Sky’ scene.

On the whole, the film may not feel as fresh as it’s predecessor but it’s still a worthwhile addition to the series. It’s definitely going to go down as a fan favorite, if only for Baby Groot. Be prepared to see a lot of that character in the near futures.

Grade: A

*Please Do Not Attempt This Game