After incurring the wrath of the Sovereigns when Rocket (Bradley Cooper) steals their most precious resource, Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), and Groot (Vin Diesel) find themselves on the run. Pursued by the ruthless Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) and the vengeful Nebula (Karen Gillan), the Guardians seek refuge with a mysterious entity known as Ego (Kurt Russell). While alliances within the Guardians' enemies shift, Ego reveals the truth about Star-Lord's past, and reveals his true nature.
The first Guardians of the Galaxy was a big surprise, even with Marvel's track record at that point being pretty solid. It wasn't exactly a risk, but it was a breath of fresh air into a franchise that was starting to feel a bit stale. What worked so well about the first Guardians film was its complete embrace of the silliness of its comic book roots, as well as its full leap into the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. With that door opened, the sequel has a certain freedom that most Marvel movies don't; it can do pretty much whatever it wants in its wacky, cosmic setting.
As a sequel, Vol. 2 does exactly what it should. It builds on the first film in terms of character, action, and stakes, but retains the same atmosphere and humour which made that film so special. Of all the Marvel films, this is the one that looks the most like a comic book. Every shot is vibrant and gorgeous, with top-notch effects bringing fantastical worlds to life. Any scene, whether action sequences or simple dialogue, takes place in a uniquely colourful environment. Nothing is treated too seriously, with almost every tense moment being broken by a quip. While that does keep the dramatic stakes fairly low, that isn't really the point of this film.
Vol. 2 takes the Guardians themselves to new places, bringing new emotional layers to the heroes and the villains. While it's very easy to be endeared to the characters, this film sheds some light on the relationships between them that adds a lot of clarity to their interactions. The most important relationships are the ones built on familial relationships; Star-Lord and Ego, Star-Lord and Yondu (Michael Rooker), and the most compelling of all, Gamora and Nebula. The exploration of these relationships helps to define the film's central theme; the difference between the family you're born into and the one you create. The Guardians feel like a real family; somewhat dysfunctional, but always held together by their bond.
The chemistry of the cast greatly helps to emotionally ground the Guardians, which is a difficult task in such a ridiculous world. Since this film is essentially a cartoon, it's surprising how effective the emotional aspects of the film are. There is a bit more seriousness to the characters, especially with Drax, who isn't nearly as goofy as you might expect this time around. The stand-out performance came from Michael Rooker, who returns as Yondu, bringing the sharp-toothed, endlessly violent Ravager to life with constant joy. Kurt Russell is obviously fantastic, and Pom Klementieff as Mantis brings an emotional vulnerability, even if most of her jokes didn't land.
The chemistry of the cast greatly helps to emotionally ground the Guardians, which is a difficult task in such a ridiculous world. Since this film is essentially a cartoon, it's surprising how effective the emotional aspects of the film are. There is a bit more seriousness to the characters, especially with Drax, who isn't nearly as goofy as you might expect this time around. The stand-out performance came from Michael Rooker, who returns as Yondu, bringing the sharp-toothed, endlessly violent Ravager to life with constant joy. Kurt Russell is obviously fantastic, and Pom Klementieff as Mantis brings an emotional vulnerability, even if most of her jokes didn't land.
Unfortunately, this movie does suffer from some of the same drawbacks that plague the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The villains are fine, but the jokes around them are more memorable than the actual characters. The story feels very similar to the first Guardians, with some scenes feeling like they were trying to recapture the most memorable scenes from that film. While it's undeniable how fun Vol. 2 is, that fun is almost a detriment. The flaw with a good comedy is that once you know the jokes, they won't have the same impact on you upon subsequent viewings. The first act feels like it moves a bit too quickly, but once the story settles in and starts to take its time, it improves greatly.
All of this isn't to say that Vol. 2 is a disappointment in any way. In terms of overall quality, it's easily on par with the first Guardians of the Galaxy, and it's an incredibly fun ride from beginning to end. It's the kind of movie that's great to see in a packed theatre, because the big laughs and triumphant moments feel so much more impactful. The emotional backbone of this film, which feels authentic, elevates it beyond your average superhero movie. Writer/director James Gunn has created something really special with the Guardians universe, and his vision is exactly what you would expect from a comic book movie; he knows and understands the source material, but he's taking it in a new direction that's crowd-pleasing, but not because it's empty entertainment.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 doesn't feel quite as fresh and different as it did the first time around, but it retains the charm and fun. It feels like there was just as much love and passion poured into Vol. 2 as there was into the first film, and the exploration of Marvel's cosmic universe has endless potential for future adventures. The approach to character, humour, and action hasn't gotten old yet, and while there isn't much mystery left to the characters, there is a new depth to them. When we next see the Guardians of the Galaxy, they'll be fighting alongside the Avengers. I only hope that their trademark energy won't falter with time or exposure.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 doesn't feel quite as fresh and different as it did the first time around, but it retains the charm and fun. It feels like there was just as much love and passion poured into Vol. 2 as there was into the first film, and the exploration of Marvel's cosmic universe has endless potential for future adventures. The approach to character, humour, and action hasn't gotten old yet, and while there isn't much mystery left to the characters, there is a new depth to them. When we next see the Guardians of the Galaxy, they'll be fighting alongside the Avengers. I only hope that their trademark energy won't falter with time or exposure.
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