If Guardians of the Galaxy fans were hoping for a worthy sequel, they’ve got it.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 might not be a classic like the first movie, but it definitely is worth watching, and viewers will leave the theater smiling and satisfied with many unanswered questions finally answered.
The film opens with the Guardians – Star-Lord (aka Peter Quill), Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Baby Groot hired to protect precious batteries owned by a powerful and elite alien race, the Sovereign, from a space monster. When Rocket steals some of the batteries, the Guardians then find themselves on the run from the Sovereign. Along the way, Peter’s father finally reveals himself.
Remember in the first movie when Peter (spoiler) is able to hold an Infinity Stone without dying? Moviegoers finally have the answer as to why that is possible when Ego (Kurt Russell) arrives.
Even though this is a superhero movie, the real theme throughout the Marvel masterpiece is finding your family — and who truly is your family.
Drax says it best: they’re not friends (as Nebula calls them), they are family.
This movie isn’t just about saving the Galaxy after all; it’s about realizing that sometimes what you’ve been searching for your whole life is right in front of you.
On a less-serious note, fans will absolutely love the way the characters have developed since the first movie. Baby Groot is adorable and is the tiny hero that the Guardians never realized they needed. Drax is funnier in this movie as well and has opened up a lot more to everyone.
Gamora has also softened up a little bit, and the whole “unspoken thing” between Peter and her certainly becomes less unspoken in this movie. Gamora also has to deal with her revenge-seeking sister Nebula once again, and viewers find out even more about their troubled past as well. Last but certainly not least, there’s Rocket, and he is even less filtered in this movie than the first one. He is still struggling with his past in the sequel, but he certainly doesn’t let up with his “jerk” attitude.
The humor in this movie is just as good, if not better, than the first film. All of the Guardians pick on each other constantly (of course), so that adds to the comedic aspect of the movie. Even though the movie has its serious moments, it overall stays pretty lighthearted.
Another aspect that stood out in the first Guardians movie is the choice of music. The first movie was Marvel’s first shot at using classic songs from the 70s and 80s, and it paid off. The music choices in this movie were great too, but the music selection in the first was better. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will definitely not let you think of “Mr. Blue Sky” by the Electric Light Orchestra again without thinking of Baby Groot, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The special effects were incredible as well. I would recommend seeing the film in 2D, because the effects when seeing it in 3D were almost overwhelming at times. This movie easily seems 95% all special effects, but because they are so good, it’s not a big deal, or distracting.
Overall, the film excellently ties in everything from the first movie, has a great storyline, good humor, classic music and incredible special effects.
Rating: 4/4
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures