A 1980s science fiction cult classic is revisited in “Blade Runner 2049,” the follow-up to the 1982 Harrison Ford vehicle.

Much like the 1982 original, this is a visual marvel – with director Denis Villeneuve meticulously crafting this futuristic world in great detail – although the narrative lacks the same spark.

This “Blade Runner” sees Ryan Gosling as a Los Angeles police officer named K whose latest case leads to a dark secret that could have long-term effects on the fragile structure of control in society.

He unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos.

The deeper K plunges into his investigation the more things point toward an eccentric businessman (Jared Leto) – with the key to the whole mystery former blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been missing for 30 years.

Fans of the original will find plenty to like here. “Blade Runner 2049” expands on the mythology from the original – with Villeneuve borrowing heavily from his previous film “Arrival” to explore some of the same themes about humanity.

Richard Deakins’ cinematography is breathtaking, with the production design Oscar-worthy. This is a world that is brought to life in magnificent fashion – as much of a visual marvel as “Blade Runner” was when it was released in 1982.

The problem with “Blade Runner 2049” is the same that plagued “Blade Runner” – the story is unable to match the lofty heights set by the film’s special effects.

The film noir style worked better in “Blade Runner” which was more than 40 minutes shorter than the sequel.

In “Blade Runner 2049” Hampton Fancher and Michael Green’s screenplay always has the audience about two or three steps ahead of the actually story, resulting in a film that feels like it is going at a snail’s pace at times. A subplot involving Gosling’s K and his relationship with an entity named Joi (Ana de Armas) also doesn’t help with the bloated 162 minute running time. (Word of advice: you might want to watch the original right before seeing this film or else you could get lost in some of the story details that link the two films together.)

Gosling makes a good lead and it is nice to see Ford slip back into Deckard like no time has passed, but the rest of the cast is pretty disposable – with Leto’s villain making nowhere near the same impact that Rutger Hauer and Darryl Hannah made in “Blade Runner.”

These flaws keep “Blade Runner 2049” from being in the same category as Villeneuve’s previous two films, “Arrival” and “Sicario,” but it is still solid enough that fans of the original won’t be disappointed – or at least not that much.

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

Rating: R for violence, some sexuality, nudity and language

Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow), Franklin Drive-In

Grade: B