As a cult-follower of Marvel movies, I naturally love “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”. The film was fun, action-packed, and met every expectation I had. “GotGV2”’s plot was riveting; it began with the Guardians defending a set of powerful batteries belonging to the Sovereign nation. When Rocket Raccoon makes off like a bandit with them, the High Priestess of the Sovereign endeavors is on a hell-bent quest for revenge.  As Peter Quill finally meets his father, the plot thickens and intrigue arises as plot twists are abound.  No spoilers, though. As opposed to other Marvel films, the plot of “GotGV2” was very easy to follow; that is not to say that the film lacked intricacies and care during the production process. As a cult-follower of Marvel movies, I naturally love “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”. The film was fun, action-packed, and met every expectation I had. “GotGV2”’s plot was riveting; it began with the Guardians defending a set of powerful batteries belonging to the Sovereign nation. When Rocket Raccoon makes off like a bandit with them, the High Priestess of the Sovereign endeavors is on a hell-bent quest for revenge.  As Peter Quill finally meets his father, the plot thickens and intrigue arises as plot twists are abound.  No spoilers, though. As opposed to other Marvel films, the plot of “GotGV2” was very easy to follow; that is not to say that the film lacked intricacies and care during the production process. It was enjoyable to learn more about Peter Quill’s backstory in this second installation. Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is fairly set up for “Infinity War,” the Avengers film due in May 2018,  “GotGV2”  was free to delve into characters more personally. We learn about the close relationship between Yondu and Peter, which gives Yondu a more lighthearted and respectable feel, considering how he could have been viewed as an antihero in the first film. There is a clear paternal bond between the characters that warms the heart. Additionally, Gamora and her sister Nebula finally make peace and help one another in their quest to save the galaxy for a second time. And of course, Baby Groot was everyone’s favorite (look out for him next awards season). Such cuteness. Without question, the film is most notable for its amazing soundtrack and score. “Mr. Blue Sky,” (Electric Light Orchestra) “Bring it on Home to Me,” (Sam Cooke) and “Brandy” (Looking Glass) were among my favorites in the soundtrack. While the first film featured songs that even younger audiences could identify with, the new sequel, in my opinion, attempted to broaden its musical spectrum by incorporating songs that are less mainstream. This was a bold and wise choice, as the film introduced moviegoers to new (albeit aged) music that they, most likely, wouldn’t have heard otherwise. Aside from the fantastic soundtrack, “GotGV2”’s score was excellent; composed by Tyler Bates, who is recognized for his work in other superhero flicks such as the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Watchmen,” provided an engaging musical experience for the audience. In regards to visual effects, the film was flawless. Most everything was easy on the eyes and understandable; all CGI effects appeared natural and nuanced. Dialogue and witty comebacks were prevalent in the film, as promised in its trailers and sneak peeks. On the whole, the film lacked a certain je ne sais quoi that limited its comparison to the recent Marvel movies. Don’t get me wrong, the movie was fantastic. Just because it wasn’t perfect, doesn’t mean it wasn’t fun. I loved “GotGV2” from beginning to end.  I highly recommend seeing “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” while it is still in theaters! It is a truly excellent film, and quite welcome in this new era of superhero films.