The predicament of excellent movies having subpar sequels is as old and enduring as the film industry itself (see here, here and here). More often than not, sequels are disappointing, depressing and downright disastrous.  

Fortunately, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” defies the norm.

The picture has some large shoes to fill, with its predecessor, “Guardians of the Galaxy,” receiving a whopping  91% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, “Vol. 2” doesn’t fail to deliver.

The film has the same star-studded cast that its predecessor had, with Bradley Cooper returning as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, Zoe Saldana returning as the alien assassin Gamora, and Chris Pratt performing the lead role of Peter Quill.

“Guardians 2” starts with a fantastic set of opening credits, with the Guardians –  Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord), Gamora, Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket, and Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) — defending the prized batteries of Sovereign leader Princess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) against a battery-hungry monster to the tunes of the Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky” as credits rolled by. Good move, director James Gunn, good move.

Unfortunately, a problem quickly arises while Ayesha thanks the Guardians for their help. The Sovereign people, who are the subject of notoriety throughout the galaxy for their grudge-holding and sensitivity, are somehow able to offend the thick-skinned Rocket (complete sarcasm intended — a stationary boulder would be able to offend Rocket) with the thank-you’s he perceived to be rife with elitism and insincerity. As a result, he decides to steal a few of the very batteries he was hired to protect. This proves to be bothersome to Princess Ayesha, as the rest of the movie revolves around her getting back at the Guardians.

The spite of the Sovereign people is not the only threat to the security of the galaxy, however. That would be too easy. So, the “Guardians 2” crew threw a father-son dynamic into the mix, as it turns out that Peter Quill has a father, Ego (Kurt Russell). Initially thrilled at the prospect of connecting with the father he never knew, Quill quickly realizes the dark side of his paternal unit, proving tumultuous for the future of the galaxy.

Aside from a strong storyline, “Guardians 2” also boasts hefty graphics. Scenes showing Quill and his crew undergoing “jumps” through 700 different worlds in the galaxy, and sequences showing Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker) wielding his infamous whistle-controlled arrow are just a few of the ways the movie’s crew shows off their special effect skills.

Rooker, in particular, successfully took on a significant role in this movie compared to his role in its predecessor, effectively displaying the internal conflict of a man seeking to atone for his past sins.

However, the movie is not free of imperfections. While I love a good laugh, many might find the dialogue too humorous and light-hearted at times and not as serious as other movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe like “Thor” or “Captain America.” In addition, “Guardians 2” might seem a bit too similar to “Guardians of the Galaxy,” when considering the similar acting, action scenes, etc.

That said, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a stellar film overall that bodes well for the future of the “Guardians” franchise. While “Guardians 3” is a long way off, this movie is an auspicious start to the much-awaited blockbusters set to release in Summer 2017.