Entertaining, but falls short of the original

WHEN Marvel's second-string superheroes Guardians of the Galaxy hit a home run at the box office three years ago, the pressure on Vol 2 to raise the stakes - as all big-budget sequels are obliged to do - became more intense. It's probably no surprise that under the weight of those increased expectations, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, written and directed by James Gunn, doesn't reach the heights of the original - but not for lack of trying.

Vol 2 is entertaining enough, treating viewers to plenty of fireworks (both literal and figurative) as well as a full quota of the usual wisecracks among the crew of the good spaceship Milano. But it delivers less bang for more bucks.

Narrative-wise, there's a sizeable list of personal disputes and issues to resolve, plus the answer to something half-human, half-alien Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), aka Star-Lord, desperately needs to know: "Who's your daddy?"