Bringing back the Marvel cinematic universe in space with a new plot and the introduction of new characters as well as old ones, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 was a blast. It was a fun movie to watch, and didn’t let me down as a sequel to a successful Marvel movie.

It starts off with the Guardians of the Galaxy being hired by an advanced alien race, the Sovereign, to protect their precious batteries from an inter-dimensional beast. After defeating the beast, the group gets custody of Nebula, Gamora’s sister, in exchange for their services. Once the Guardians leave, the Sovereign discover that Rocket Raccoon has stolen some of the batteries and send a fleet to attack them. The group is saved by a mysterious man, and they crash land on nearby planet. The mysterious man who saved them claims to be Peter Quill’s (Star-Lord) father, and Quill learns about his heritage.

First off, I was impressed with the visual aspects of the movie. The makeup, costumes, CGI and cinematography were nearly flawless, and it was enjoyable to watch the vibrant colors on the screen. The backgrounds and sets were detailed and different for each planet the Guardians explored, and fit the tone whether it was a ship of space pirates or the castle of a highly advanced alien race. The costumes and makeup were also executed well. Some of the actors had to have their entire bodies covered in paint to pose as aliens, which is a commendable feat. The cinematography offered a variety of shots, and I especially liked the addition of scenes in slow motion.

While the visual effects were on point, I was a bit disappointed with the plot. Toward the end of the movie, it became very cliche during what could be called the final battle, which had a very deus ex machina feel to it. However, I liked the introduction of Star Lord’s heritage and the feud between the two sisters, Gamora and Nebula. Both led to good character development within the movie. Also, the movie was able to balance a subplot at the same time, which converged together with the main plot at the end.

This movie definitely specialized in comedy. If there was a serious situation, a joke was inserted to make it lighthearted. Whether it was Drax laughing at everything, Rocket Raccoon ridiculing others, or baby Groot dancing, it was entertaining to watch.

Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy was as good as any other Marvel movie, and I recommend watching it to be up to date on Marvel movies. Also, you get to watch a whopping five after-credit scenes that give insight on what will happen in the Marvel universe next.