Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – 4/5 – Movie Reviews by Ry!
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – 4/5 – Marvel is a juggernaut when it comes to the comic book genre. They have created so many entertaining films. What makes their tales go beyond the typical clichés is the unique characters and unprecedented themes. Marvel pushes the terms of believability through a sense of creative thought. You are always satisfied with what they produce. Being a sequel to one of their more ambitious films to date, this one takes our beloved Guardians into a new journey. Spinning ideas of family in the surreal nature of the cosmos, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 provides another chapter of enjoyment. Even when segments are passé, you will find the complete package in this amazing sequel.
Premise: The Guardians embark on a new journey, as they come to learn the truth behind who is Peter Quill’s father.
Here is your main ‘Guardian’ cast:
Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord
Zoe Saldana as Gamora
Dave Bautista as Drax
Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon (Voice)
Vin Diesel as Baby Groot (Voice)
These five provide the heart and soul of the film. No matter how they interact, each of them gives you an angle that is full of life, love and comedy. There is something pure in how they communicate with one another because It makes you feel as if you are a part of their crew. It is a delicate sense of being part of a family. The bantering is stark, blunt and unpredictable. Even with so many random quips, it is in that odd behavior that makes everything feel real. From the character builds to their unique personalities, you see layers to be found in what they mean to each other. Within that connection, you also see how flawed they are as ‘people’ in this cosmic world. Some of the notable secondary cast are:
Michael Rooker as Yondu
Karen Gillan as Nebula
Kurt Russell as Ego
Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha
These four do a marvelous job in providing additional odd like behavior with the main cast. They add more color through their fleshed-out roles. With more added background information for Yondu and Nebula (specifically), it gives them bigger roles to play with in this film. Through all of them, you get to see an element of characterization that you wouldn’t expect. What this does is provide a leveling of abstraction, ensuring another kind of perspective to this living, breathing universe.
Being a sequel, there are many avenues this film can take. You can repeat the prior success or provide a progression for the characters. James Gunn (Director), provides a middle ground between repeating prior elements while also progressing the characters further. He does this by using the ‘family’ trope, but adding additional layers with the secondary and new characters. This provides the audience with a story that’s character driven within the capsule of a blockbuster. The first act begins with a small re-introduction to the main characters, before moving forward into an odd complexion of family and a space adventure. There is no coherent story, just a mixture of character driven elements that string together around the focal point of Peter Quill meeting his father, Ego. This provides the ‘anchor’ for the director, allowing the journey to unfold like falling dominos. Each character has an ‘individual’ quest that leads them to some sort of ‘path of discovery’. Even the outline seems convoluted, what provides that pure enjoyment is the character dynamic. The bantering is a spectrum of different genres. From the hearty love connections, family quarreling, comedic hijinks and the dramatic exposition, the dialogue is honest, raw and unpredictable. It is with the genuine take on the scriptwriting that helps drive the factor of a gratifying experience. Once all the separate dominos fall into place, it leads into a third act of monumental entertainment. With the bulk of the characterization taking up the first two acts, it is the third act where the blockbuster appeal comes to the screen. With this taking place in space, the cosmic elements come on the screen in a very ominous and colorful kind of way. The creative allure draws you into the spectacle, pushing through the surreal within a dose of an adrenaline rush. The bantering stays on key while you are going through the motions of all the unique CGI and action on display. Once you come to the climax, it is completely unexpected. Without spoiling the ending, it provides true closure and meaning when it comes to family.
The visuals are very expansive. With the complexion of unearthly areas and worlds, this film goes beyond the dynamism of what you call spectacular. From the colorful city and landscapes, outrageously intuitive worlds, distinct character designs and bombastic ‘action in space’; you are taken back by how believable everything comes to be on screen. You will be in complete awe of what you see. The music is the bread and butter of this series. Placing all the scenes against classic tracks from the past, you experience that sense of a ‘trippy’ reality through the lens of a comic book film. It is one that makes you feel good, but also enjoy some of the odd things you come to see in the film.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is what you wanted and a lot more. From the lovable characters to the odd styling of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in space, you will not be disappointed. If you’re a marvel fan or comic book fan overall, go see it. It is worth the full price of admission; a fun time at the theaters.