Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 begins with the ragtag team of guardians being hired by the alien race of the planet Sovereign to protect valuable batteries (the source of the planet’s power) against a monstrous invader.

The threat is dealt with and in return for their services, the Guardians gain custody of Gamora’s (Zoe Saldana) evil sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan). After the transaction is made and seems to be settled, the people of Sovereign embark on a hunt of the Guardians after discovering that Rocket (Bradley Cooper) stole the batteries. The ensuing conflict leads to the discovery of Star-Lord’s (Chris Pratt) true parentage and a test of the guardian’s familial bonds.

The matter of family is a massive theme of the film, if not the primary theme. Throughout Guardians Vol. 2, audiences will see nearly every character discovering, creating or battling with a connection they have with fellow characters. For instance, even the likes of the vulgar and brash Rocket finds an unlikely connection with Yondu (Michael Rooker).

This theme has its pros and cons. On the bright side, the theme promotes and demands more heart and vulnerability from the cast and the characters they play. The cast pulls from deeper emotions and the characters gain more depth as a result.

On the flip side, the theme makes the movie scattered in a sense. When a movie like this is focused on a group, and the story stretches itself out to the plights of individual characters, it’s hard to synthesize the overall story in an efficient matter. Is it an impossible thing to do with a film? No. Is it a difficult thing to be successful with? Yes. Director, James Gunn gave it a decent shot, but it wasn’t used to its full potential in the end.

Although, this fault will likely not deter anyone from having fun with this movie because that’s what it is, good fun. Drax (Dave Bautista) and his brutish personality continues to impress while Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) is, you guessed it, absolutely adorable. The humorous tongue-in-cheek dynamic of the Guardians returns and is done well with the exception of some gags that become a bit repetitive.

Something that some people may take for granted is how incredible the visuals and special effects continue to be. Viewers will witness multiple unique and vibrant landscapes accompanied by battle pieces that are pure sci-fi eye candy. Also, a lot of people are hesitant to see 3D movies nowadays, but if you’re going to see just one film in 3D this year, Guardians Vol. 2 is a perfect choice. When there’s an intimate one-on-one moment, the depth of field on the characters is enhanced greatly. When there’s a battle, the geographical scale becomes intensified. In essence, the price of seeing this movie in 3D is well worth the level of immersion it delivers.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 may not be as well done as the first movie but then again, that’s a hardship that sequels have to often deal with. This shouldn’t stop you from going out to the theater and having fun with this movie.