Guardians of the Galaxy - Vol. 2

One thing is for certain: Marvel Studios' "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is one of the most popular film of the summer. By Memorial Day weekend (tickets went on sale April 24), the sequel grossed more than the first film has to date. Audiences seem to either think it's the best thing or the worst thing they ever seen, while critics say, "It's okay."

Once again we follow the adventures of that mismatched group of freelance space-adventurers the Guardians of the Galaxy, but the primary story involves Peter Quill's (Chris Pratt) reunion with his biological father Ego (Kurt Russell) and his relationship with the man who raised him Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker).

Coming to terms with family -- both the one you're born into and the one you choose -- is the major theme of this installment. As Peter tries to form a relationship with his deadbeat dad, Gamora's (Zoe Saldana) sorts out her feelings for her estranged sister Nebula (Karen Gillian). As a personal assassin, Gamora has trouble expressing tender emotions. That's why she still can't admit she has the hots for Peter. No problem; in Vol. 2 we have an empathic creature, Mantis (Pom Klementieff), who helps her friends understand their feelings, even when they don't want to.

Mantis gets to pal around with Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), who's a little socially awkward himself, and the mercenary raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper), who -- after a great battle with a space monster that looks like a giant intestinal parasite -- the gets the action started by stealing a set of batteries.

If all of this is starting to sound like Kurtzweil's theory of high efficiency cold computing, don't worry. Vin Diesel's character Groot is a baby in this sequel. And though Baby Groot basically just dances around and looks adorable (aside from the occasional murder and blowing up a planet) he pretty much steals the show.

Like the other box office blowout of the summer "Despicable Me 3," this film relishes in the pop culture of the nineteen eighties, so spaceship battles and mega-slayings are accompanied by a kick-ass soundtrack. Also like that film, "Guardians" is a mess of multiple characters and too many plotlines. So the story action doesn't really kick in until we're two-thirds of the way into the movie.

All of the creative efforts of this crew are detailed in "a ton" of special features, highlighting direction, character, visual design and sound, not to mention audio commentary, deleted scenes, a gag reel and a music video starring David Hasselhoff.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"
Blu-ray Combo Pack
$24.98
movies.disney.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2/