Of all the Marvel
movies surrounding the Infinity Stones, Guardians of the Galaxy is the most fun. The playful and genuine humour of the first
movie along with the fantastically retro soundtrack had this great vibe of ‘I
just like it, I just do it’ without background agenda or fear of being judged.
This inadvertent trend-setter attitude is absolutely glorious and even though
it may spawn a few desperate copycats (I’m pointing at you Suicide Squad), it just goes to show that a love for something old
always has power and a place. This idea was toyed with in the first Guardians movie, but really comes out in
the second.
After helping protect some precious batteries for the Sovereign,
the Guardians find themselves being chased down by their employers when Ratchet
(Bradley Cooper) steals some of the batteries for shiggles. After a space
battle that destroys their ship, they crash on a planet where they bump into
Peter’s father, Ego (Kurt Russell). Leaving Ratchet to fix the ship and mind
Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) and the captive Nebula (Karen Gillan), Peter (Chris
Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and Drax (Dave Bautista) travel with Ego to his
home planet only to discover a heinous plot that threatens the galaxy and calls
on them to save it again.
The ‘I don’t care, I love it’ attitude is quick to
take the stage with a fantastic opening battle sequence filled with Kingsman-esque violence and fireworks that
gets back-seated to adorable Baby Groot dancing around the battleground.
From
the debris of a kick-arse and hilariously social-commenting space battle rises
the thick-set theme of family, which is the driving force throughout the movie.
A number of community and family themed stories pile on top of one another: we
have the reunification of Peter and his god-like dad, the tension between
Gamora and Nebula, the community outcast story of Yondu, and the attachment
issues of Ratchet. Some of the stories are a little clichéd and very heavy on
the family theme, but it still works so I can’t complain.
Where I may complain
is in the film’s pacing. There are a lot different narratives happening all at
the same time and where the film falls down a little is in tying up all those
narratives in one swoop. Yondu’s story particularly would be a more poignant
and have more pay-off with more time (no elaboration, no spoilers).
Drax was
still hilarious, though I personally got a little sick of him quite quickly,
and I feel that Gamora doesn’t really know what to do when she’s not being
angry, but that could just come from her not really having much to do in this
movie.
The special effects, lighting, and use of colour is insane and awesome,
and the set and art design is absolutely breathtaking, particularly that of
Ego’s planet, which is one big LSD trip made real.
But, as a lover of nostalgia
and the past’s influence on the present, I did get a kick out of the references
to classic movies. Amidst many I’m sure, two that stood out for me were Metropolis and North By Northwest. And then we have the numerous Marvel easter
eggs that make the movie the ultimate egg hunt; no wonder it came out after
Easter (apologies for that terrible joke).
I like the first movie better, but Guardians Volume 2 still promises a
great movie experience. The humour is the same, the characters are still great,
and it’s visually quite mind-blowing. If you like Marvel and you liked the
first movie, you’ll definitely like this!
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana,
Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Kurt Russell, Karen Gillan, Michael
Rooker, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, and
Sylvester Stallone
Rating: M
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