Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2
Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2
Released: April 2017
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradly Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, Kurt Russell, Karen Gillen, Pom Klementieff
Director: James Gunn
With the smash hit of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), will this be the awkward second album for Marvels most far reaching superheroes, or will Volume 2 got straight to number one?
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Well yes, yes I was. By the time I was leaving (after all of the credits had properly finished) I was already planning my next trip to see it.
Canonically, Volume 2 is set just a few months after Volume 1 so there are a fair few parts of the film that will likely make little sense if [for some maddening reason] you have failed to watch it. In my excited preparations for Volume 2 I had done my homework and watched Volume 1 again, so all of the thrills and spills from three years ago were fresh in my mind.
I will go on record now as saying that the opening sequence is the most charming way to open a movie I can think of; Baby Groot (Diesel), dancing to ELO’s Mr Blue Sky. Wonderful, and an introduction that only a GotG [I’m already losing the will to live, writing the whole thing every time] could pull off. Actually, that applies to huge swathes of the film; it’s truly been Guardianised.
If you asked me to describe GotG:v2 in two words I’d probably say “daddy issues”. It’s something that all of our favourite superheroes have, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, and now Star Lord, aka Peter Quill (Pratt). They’re all raised in one way or another without one or both of their birth parents. Although Quill’s may be the straight-up weirdest one of them all. Raised on earth by his mother, who dies of a brain tumour when he’s a child, he never knows his father. After his mother’s death, he is kidnapped by the blue space thief, Yondu (Rooker), and raised as a member of the Ravagers.
So, when his father, Ego (Russell), unexpectedly shows up, there are understandably a few questions; ‘Where have you been all my life?’, ‘Holy flip, did you just say you were a living planet?!’ (yes, his father is actually a living planet), and of course ‘Do you have a penis?’ (although this one is courtesy of Drax (Bautista)). Anyway, like I said, daddy issues.
But, after further consideration, I wouldn’t really need two words. Because it can all be summed up in just one; “family”.
Although the main arc focuses on Peter and Ego’s new relationship, as they work through the aforementioned daddy issues, GotG:v2 digs deeper. Quill’s relationship with his mother plays just as important a part of the story as his one with Ego, and Yondu’s affections for him (despite abducting him) play a key role in his arc. Quill and Gamora (Saldana) stand as the Guardians awkward surrogate parents, with Baby Groot tottering about as the group’s new child. Meanwhile, Gamora and Nebula (Gillen) attack (literally) their sisterhood head on, and Drax’s fond memories of his family allow him to find a kindred spirit in Mantis (Klementieff).
As you might have been able to tell from the star-list alone, there’s quite a few characters in GotG:v2, so you might be concerned that packing them all in will feel cramped. Well, fear not; Gunn and co. have a simple solution. They’ve Two Towersed it [you know, they’ve split our big group up into smaller ones with their own stories, like in LotR: The Two Towers (2002) [seriously, I’m going to end up using acronyms for everything today]].
When Ego and Mantis first find our Guardians, they have crash landed, with both the ship and their strained relationships in need of repairs before they can call in the reward for their precious cargo; the captured Nebula. Keen to foster a relationship with his son, Ego offers to take Quill and his companions to his home planet. With Gamora and Drax following in tow, Rocket (Cooper) and Groot are left behind to complete the repairs and guard Nebula.
Once they have separated, it’s all very nice for the group with Quill, Ego, et al. where we learn about Quill’s heritage and what it means for him (Ego is literally the planet, and both are effectively immortal), before we’re treated to a montage or two of them bonding.
With everything being all tranquil and lovely on Ego [on Ego, with Ego, I’m not even sure; how do you describe a location when that location is also the company you are with?!] all the excitement is all back with Rocket and Groot. Yondu and his Ravagers have been tasked with capturing the Guardians and delivering them for execution. With numbers heavily in his favour, Yondu easily captures Rocket (although not before Rocket has had a fine old time roughing up a fair few Ravagers), but all does not go to plan; his crew are frustrated and, with some help from the escaped Nebula, mutiny, taking Rocket, Groot and Yondu prisoner aboard their ship.
Out of luck, out of weapons and gadgets, and out of ideas, all hope looks lost. Rocket and Yondu are resigned to their imprisonment and Groot, to being an adorable plaything. Until… a brainwave, a slither of a chance and one utterly fantastic sequence leads to their daring escape, with Groot taking centre stage.
Once free, our new trio make the only sensible decision available; to re-join the other Guardians on Ego, leading to a wonderful finale, as the Guardians find themselves battling to save the galaxy again. This closing chapter has everything you could ask for in it, with sequences brimming with action, comedy, and genuine emotion.
GotG:v2 is a fantastic sequel to the Guardians first adventure, ticking every box that it needed to, as well as a fair few more. This simplification makes it all seem far more formulaic than it actually is though, as it is done in a way that only the Guardians could have done, and it is all done in a way befitting of the series so far.
I always feel that comic book films are at their best when they stay close to their comic book roots, rather than getting bogged down in all the glitz of the big screen. GotG:v2 does this beautifully. The other worldly feel of Ego (the planet) is spot on, with small, peculiar touches everywhere, including the eerie, ever watching face on the [his, its, which it?! Oh, my poor mind!] exterior. It looks like it has been lifted straight from the pages of the comics itself. The vibrant colours of the planet set the tone for the story perfectly, so you won’t find it difficult to be as awestruck as Quill is by the flora [I’d mention the fauna too, but it’s made abundantly clear that there isn’t any].
The gleeful vibrancy of the planet is mirrored perfectly when Gamora seeks a moment of quiet inspection, away from Quill and Ego, and the scenery is as grey and moody as she seems, beheading chirruping flowers in the blink of an eye. Whether it’s the sublime or the ridiculous, you are always watching a genuine comic book film, not some Hollywood showpiece featuring the characters or places you might jest recognise from one.
GotG:v2 was always going to have a good soundtrack [I mean with an album entitled “Awesome Mix: Volume 2”, how couldn’t it?], but I wasn’t really prepared for how good. It permeates the film, truly helping the story ebb and flow. "Mr. Blue Sky" and Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" are welcome in any film, but how would the always emotive Father and Son fit into this action comedy? The answer; perfectly.
I have eulogised about the quality of the film to any and all who will still listen, and have trawled for those with negatives to say. There are really only two that pop up. 1) It can be a bit juvenile at times and; 2) Drax doesn’t really add anything.
Well, okay, if you’re after highbrow, you’re watching the wrong film. This was never going to be one for the stony hearted, serious adults among us. It is silly, fun, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. If that means asking a planet about his penis, or talking about the size of someone’s turds, then so be it.
The Drax issue I can see. In the first film, he had a clear purpose; to kill Ronan and avenge his family. This time around his drive is less clear. It’s almost like he’s just come along for the ride. But he offers so much to this film that a possible lack of purpose, doesn’t mean he’s deadweight. Almost all of the biggest laughs will come from something Drax related, and his story with Mantis is charming in its own way. After dropping into the galaxy like a bomb in the first instalment, he has calmed a touch and is now in something of a transitionary phase. But he still hates Thanos and he’ll be back, bigger and badder than before in Infinity War, I’m sure.
From start to finish, GotG:v2 is charming delight. It follows on perfectly from the first volume and bridges a gap between there and the forthcoming Infinity War. Although Quill is the star (lord [he-he-he]) of the show, Baby Groot will steal every scene he is in. Despite splitting the group up, our two stories run perfectly both in tandem, and when they (invariably) reconvene. Perfectly punctuated by it’s soundtrack, we are taken on another other worldly adventure to save the galaxy and build a family. Even if it might be too low brow for some, you will laugh, you will cry, and you’ll fall a bit in love.
Immensely quotable, and hugely fun, it’s a must see for any Marvel fan.
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🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 Stars
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I loved
There is an utterly stupendous cameo, timed to perfection (and for possibly a first for Marvel, it’s not from Stan Lee).
If you thought for a single second that GotG:v1’s “We are Groot” was the single most emotional sentence ever uttered [which it used to be], you’re wrong.
Pet Peeve
There are an absolute bucket load of mid and post credit scenes (so make sure you stay in your seat until the lights are on), but unless you’re well versed on the Marvel comics, you could easily find yourself needing an explanation of them afterwards.
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