While it may not have the novelty of its predecessor, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is hilarious, brimming with pathos, and real pretty to boot.

Even as Vol. 2 proves to be overlong and needlessly complex, with a last act that doesn't merely drive the point home so much as hold you hostage to it, the movie proves endearing.

In Marvel lingo, Guardians 2 feels like a great six-issue arc, the kind of storytelling that used to be the backbone of superhero comics.

While the first Guardians had me leave the theater laughing, this one had me leave the theater misty-eyed.