Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2: 12 Critical Reactions You Need To Know

4. It Lacks The Freshness Of The First Film

"But for all its strengths, Vol. 2 can never quite clear the impossibly high bar set by the first film. Part of that, no doubt, stems from the fact that we’ve seen this trick before. We know how it works now, and in a time where the Marvel Cinematic Universe has absorbed and repackaged much of Guardians‘ weirdness, from the strangeness and splendor promised by Thor: Ragnarok to the 80s arcade-tinged logo’s that populate Marvel’s upcoming slate, what once seemed irreverent now seems like the mold." - Collider

"If you’re not already on the “Guardians” train, of course, this follow-up isn’t going to win you over, nor will it appeal to those who demand that sequels attempt to offer the same jolts of unexpected pleasure that first chapters do." - The Wrap

"Given that it’s following a film that was so instantly iconic and unforgettable, it’s tragic that so many people are likely to forget Vol. 2 before they’ve even left the theater." - The Verge

It honestly shouldn't be that surprising, but off the basis of the movie's fantastic marketing, fans might be a little taken aback to learn that this sequel struggles to fully recapture the first movie's gonzo charm.

Back in 2014, the innate strangeness of the Guardians was like nothing else in the MCU, but as the franchise has progressively morphed and become weirder over the last few years, this sequel's antics seemingly feel that much more ordinary, and while still a ton of fun, can't deliver the same surging freshness.

Is it fair to always expect sequels to out-do their predecessors? Absolutely not, but the movie PR hype-train encourages audiences to have these expectations, so if you're super invested in Guardians 2 improving upon the original, you might be in for mild disappointment.