Three words...

Rating: 5/10 (11 September 2017)

This movie can be summed up in three words: trying too hard.
The humor in this sequel, instead of being genuinely witty as in the first Guardians of the Galaxy, feels like someone telling obvious jokes and laughing at them at the same time to convince their audience that the jokes are funny when in fact they're barely amusing.
This is a franchise that's become too self-conscious too soon. Maybe some new writers should be brought on board for Guardians 3. James Gunn is doing a great job as director but he seems to have reached his limits as a writer.
Another proof of that might be the story in itself, which strives to be epic but ends up being barely more than a family anecdote. Despite all the effects and the multiplicity of characters, I can't help thinking that this could've been a stage play. That's how freaking small the overall plot is.
One last thing that really bothered is the overuse of music. Again, an effect of self-consciousness about what was popular about the original Guardians, this time abused until it makes you sick, on top of spoiling what should've been awesome action sequences.
I'm giving it a 5/10 because it's not a bad movie, but it's so loaded with bad decisions that I wish they had gone with another script.