The much anticipated sequel to 2014 hit, Guardians of the Galaxy is slated to hit theaters in two weeks in North American markets and it’s already had it’s Japanese premiere. But as it’s poised to hit the UK on April 28, reviews have started to come in.

From the reviews we’ve seen so far, the opinions are surprisingly mixed. Some outlets said the film wasn’t as good as its predecessor, while others enjoyed the new ride the film took them on.

Here a few excerpts from various reviews below:

Entertainment Weekly: “Nothing dooms a comic-book movie quicker than when it takes itself too seriously. Ponderous existential handwringing is a drag. Maybe that’s why Guardians of the Galaxy was such a welcome and delirious blast of laughing gas when it hit theaters nearly three years ago. Here was a movie that not only had Marvel’s usual smattering of giddy punch lines; it seemed to be made up entirely of them. It was like watching a superhero sit on a whoopee cushion for two hours—and the gag never got tired. Alas, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the gag is starting to feel like it’s getting a bit old. It’s still a good Marvel movie (at times, a very good one), but it’s a come down from the dizzying highs of the first installment. The laughs are still there, but they’re less involuntary.”

CBM: “Perhaps not quite on par with the first, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is still an absolute blast from start to finish, and is easily the funniest and most emotionally engaging entry in the MCU yet. Despite a few issues, Gunn has served up a brilliantly bonkers follow-up that should leave any fan of these terrific characters very happy indeed. Bring on the Infinity War.”

Screen Daily: “Admittedly, Vol. 2’s thematic ambitions can make the film feel overstuffed. And as with most Marvel films, this two-hour-plus sequel suffers from spectacle fatigue, Gunn delivering the umpteenth epic comic-book-movie showdown in which several planets and the lives of all the Guardians hang in the balance. But if such excess is to be expected, at least he manages to ground the proceedings in genuine pathos.”

Variety: “Shot for shot, line and line, it’s an extravagant and witty follow-up, made with the same friendly virtuosic dazzle. Yet this time you can sense just how hard the series’ wizard of a director, James Gunn (now taking off from a script he wrote solo), is working to entertain you. Maybe a little too hard. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is an adventure worth taking, and the number of moviegoers around the planet who will want to take it should prove awe-inspiring. But it doesn’t so much deepen the first “Guardians” as offer a more strenuous dose of fun to achieve a lesser high.”

So, as you can see it’s hard to tell what exactly GOTG Vol. 2 will bring just based on the reviews alone.

Some people might agree with one or more of the sentiments held by the authors of these reviews or you might disagree with every single one and believe it’s the best movie the MCU has put out.  Only time will tell!

Let us know what you think of the film reviews in the comments below.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 crashes into theaters on May 5!

Source: We Got This Covered