Director James Gunn debuted his second superhero film with Thursday’s release of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” three years after the first film hit theaters. The film grossed $60 million domestically and $170 million worldwide on opening weekend, slightly below Disney’s projections, according to IMDb.

“Vol. 2” had a production budget of $200 million and a crew of thousands, not to mention an incredible amount of pressure to perform considering the success of its 2014 predecessor. It catered to lovers of the original comics and those who enjoy superhero movies but may not know the intricate history of the Marvel universe.

The film does an excellent job sewing up plot holes and paying tribute to the first film, while not compromising its own cinematic personality. That means more jokes, more explosions and awesome mixtapes.

The first film followed a ragtag group of misfits who banded together to fight a common enemy and save the galaxy all while having a little fun along the way. The hilarity and obscenity continue into the second film, and it’s no surprise the universe needed saving once again.

The key to making the film profitable and relatable to audiences was balance — ensuring one character doesn’t overpower another. The characters are well written and each is hilarious in their own way, adding and building off one another rather than hogging the spotlight for too long.

Visually, the film is on overload. Stunning and spontaneous bursts of color fly across the screen as the team jumps from planet to planet, each as breathtaking as the last. The computer-generated imagery is beautiful despite being overwhelming, but creators need to be careful moving forward. At times it seems the creators rely more on effects and jokes than they do on the story which can be dangerous.

The film is pure fun, from the blatant Dairy Queen product placement throughout, to the constant stream of jokes hurled like comical asteroids in a field of Stan Lee cameos.

While the film is fun, some of the gags seem tired and desperate. The characters have extreme daddy issues. Peter, played by Chris Pratt, faces his own abandonment while Gamora and Nebula, played by Zoe Saldana and Karen Gillen, constantly battle for Thanos’s approval.

When Peter and his father, Ego, played by Kurt Russell, are reunited, most moments seem like something pulled from a ‘90s sitcom. They play an incredibly awkward game of energy-orb catch on the palace patio and half-sing “Brandy” by Looking Glass while slightly creeping the audience out.

At times, it feels as though Gunn and his team are trying too hard, cramming in every joke and superhero reference they can. At other times, their attempts feel genuine, creating a wonderful addition to the summer Blockbuster list. It’s familiar rapid-fire jokes are as hilarious as ever but may be the most memorable thing about the film.

“Vol. 2” attempts to explore a deeper narrative but fails because it plainly runs out of comic book pages. It feels like a desperate box office grab for ratings and profits, setting up Marvel for a killer marketing campaign that gives off a slightly “sellout” vibe. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1” came by its fandom honestly, while the sequel seems to beg for attention.