The misfit crew of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” return to save the universe again in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” The movie, with its many flaws, borders on one-dimensional, but provides quirky entertainment that’s worth a ticket.

The galactic gang of badasses are hired as mercenaries when one thing leads to another, and a whole civilization is trying to kill them. A surprise visit from Starlord’s father complicates the already strained relationships of the group.

The film struggles to reach a bar set high by its predecessor. Everything that was excellent in the first film  —  its choice in music, its character dynamics, its unexpected jokes still fit for a younger audience  —  was overdone for Vol. II.

The music selection, more golden oldies, didn’t feel as notable as the first. None of the tracks stood out for me and I didn’t feel like looking up the second volume’s tracklist as soon as I got home.

The film’s opening credits with Baby Groot dancing around the battlefield was a creative introduction to the movie’s light tone, lovably dysfunctional characters and cheesy one-liners. Many of the jokes awkwardly fell flat, but a couple surprised me into laughing out loud.

Therein lies the main problem with “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2.” The script is a series of narrowly escaped chases, with an obnoxious amount of arguing and unimaginative character development.

A majority of the scenes consisted of characters just yelling at each other, with characters increasing in volume until one stormed out or said something insightful for dramatic effect. Although the guardians aren’t known for their maturity, instead of fun bantering, the dialogue was harsh on the ears.

With the return of the original cast, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2” does add some new and enjoyable members to the team.

Mantis, adorably played by the Korean-Russian Pom Klementieff, was an enjoyable addition to the team. Initially, I was concerned that the role might’ve been played by a white person when she was stylized to look like an Asian woman. She provided refreshing diversity to the cast as an empath with emotion-altering abilities.

Sylvester Stallone gives a rugged and charismatic cameo as the character Staker. It will be interesting  to see his character progress in future “Guardians” sequels.  

The central villain in the film was unbelievable, even for a Marvel movie. With underwhelming powers and stymied motive development, the villain was laughable, although the battle special effects were large-scale and grand.

The design of the worlds in the movie are diverse and inspired. Whole structures and planets are designed for scenes that only last seconds. There is no expense spared in fleshing out the detail of the galaxies the guardians travel through.

Even with a ton of script problems, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2,” does have some positive aspects.  The movie boosts some exquisite camera work and visuals. The film, despite its lack of depth, is another wholesome adventure packed with reckless action and a unique sense of humor the guardians are known for.