Cast your mind all the way back to 2014, when an unlikely and slightly dysfunctional band of aliens joined forces with a charismatic human scavenger by the name of Star-Lord (Really?..you must have heard of him!) and formed The Guardians of the Galaxy.

Since then, Sci-Fi movies have never been so much fun!

We have now been invited to join them on their new adventure, saving the world once again in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2.

This must be one of the most eagerly awaited films of 2017. The first outing had a great witty script, full of punchy one- liners and a ragtag bunch of individual characters who all seem to have their crosses to bear which is what bonds them together.

In Vol 2, the group are now officially The Guardians of the Galaxy but selling their services like a sort of mercenary A-Team.

As the Vol 2 sub title suggests, music once again plays a big part in the franchise. The audience are treated to more great 70’s sound tracks including ELO’s "Mr Blue Sky" which bellows out during the first action set piece, involving the Guardians battling a giant slobbering Octopus like creature on behalf of a tribe of aliens called the Sovereigns who want the GOTG to stop the beast eating their space station batteries.

This is a brilliant start to the film, letting the audience get acquainted with Baby Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel). We see most of the battle as the camera traces the ‘Oh! So, cute’ Groot dancing around the top of the space ship while all chaos ensues in the background. From that moment, all of the cinema audience are falling in love with the little creature…merchandise will be flying off the shelves!

The bigger story this time involves Star-Lord / Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finding his Father Ego (Kurt Russell) after years of searching the galaxy. In fact, things get more poignant with the Father /Son reunion and the Guardians have also become more of a family rather than a team. We also have some old enemies turning to the light side.

The pace of this film is full on but if a scene hovers too long on a quite thoughtful moment, it’s soon broken by one of the Guardians coming out with a rapier-like quip. Dave Bautista’s Drax has some of the best lines in this sequel and Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon gives his own style of obvious sarcasm.

Zoe Saldana is back as Gamora and we still have the ‘will they, won’t they’ scenes with her and Peter. Karen Gillan’s Nebula (Gamora’s sister) is also back with her psychotic tendencies, which are showing signs of thawing.

But does this movie live up to the original film. Well yes it does!

To start with, it was inspired casting with Kurt Russell as Peter’s Father. The opening scene of a 1980 flashback on earth with Russell as the younger Ego with Meredith Quill is another jaw dropping special effect, which is becoming a Marvel trademark.

Another treat is with the inclusion of Sly Stallone as Pirate Captain Stakar Ogord, plus a few great cameo’s and the mention of a popular household celebrity getting the biggest laughs.

But for me, the music is the key (Hey…that rhymes!). As well as such 70’s classics as “Fox on the Run” Sweet, “The Chain” Fleetwood Mac, “My Sweet Lord” George Harrison and “Father and Son” Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam, (which all have their slot in this film) there is also a place for Sam Cooke’s 1963 “Bring it on Home to Me” in a rare tender moment with Peter and Gomara.

I must give the film top marks for pure entertainment value. Isn’t that what the cinema experience all about?

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