Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (Cert 12, 130 mins, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure/Comedy/Drama/Romance, available from August 21 on Amazon Video/BT TV Store/iTunes/Sky Store/TalkTalk TV Store and other download and streaming services, available from September 4 on DVD £17.99/Blu-ray £21.99/3D Blu-ray £25.99/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray £34.99)

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, Kurt Russell, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki and the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.

Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and his fellow Guardians - green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), vengeance-seeking warrior Drax (Dave Bautista), genetically engineered raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and cute tree-like sidekick Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) - face a razor-toothed beast that intends to steal the Anulax Batteries belonging to high priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) and her Sovereign people.

As a reward for laser-blasting bravery, the snarky heroes take delivery of a prisoner: Gamora's estranged sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan), who suffered grievously at the hands of their tyrannical father, Thanos.

Soon after, The Guardians encounter an omnipotent being, Ego (Kurt Russell), who claims to be Peter's missing father. Meanwhile, space pirate Yondu (Michael Rooker) pursues Peter and co, hungry for revenge.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 is a rollicking sequel that blends a lip-smacking cocktail of irreverent humour, heart-tugging sentiment and spectacular action sequences. Affectionate pop culture nods to Knight Rider, Cheers and Pac-Man jive enthusiastically next to running gags about male pride and human frailty.

Writer-director James Gunn confidently spices a familiar brew with sinewy subplots and an expanded role for Gamora's much-abused sibling, plus the introduction of Ego's underling, Mantis (Pom Klementieff).

Pratt and Saldana turn up their heat on the "unspoken thing" between their comrades, while computer-generated double-act Rocket and Baby Groot scene-steal with aplomb.

Not everything is golden: an emotional crescendo cheekily borrows from a recent Disney animation and Star Trek, and the dizzying final showdown has been cast, disappointingly, in the same special effects-heavy mould as The Avengers and Captain America.

Rating: ****