GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: James Gunn Does It Again

One of the underlying issues with a sequel for any major series, especially an action-based franchise like Marvel, is that people will always incessantly scrutinize the second film in relation to its original. The main points examined are: Is the film distinguishable enough from its predecessor, yet still containing the essence of what made the first film memorable? Are the characters given something new, not only in relation to a quest, but to discover about themselves? Does the film up the ante on action, but not at the expense of character?

Thankfully, James Gunn‘s Guardians of the Galaxy film when it first premiered back in 2014, having become instantly smitten by its irreverent humor, exuberant soundtrack, visually-enticing action, and character-driven story. To be fair, Vol. 2 is a lot more of the same. But where the film doesn’t distinguish itself enough from the original, it more than makes up for it in its expansive world-building, a plethora of new characters, and above all, a pulsating heart.

The gang is back

The Guardians are back: there’s half-human leader Peter “Star-Lord” Quill (Chris Pratt), sword-wielding assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), big-muscled, yet lovable Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), mischievous super-raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and adorable Groot, reduced to baby form after the events of the first Guardians (voiced by Vin Diesel). Taking place shortly after the events of that film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 finds our gang now working as a team for hire, taking up jobs across the galaxy in order to rid the world of unwanted space monsters.

After a (sort of) successful mission defeating a hideous space octopus, they soon come face-to-face with a mysterious man claiming to be Peter’s father, named Ego (Kurt Russell). At the same time, they are being hunted by Yondu (Michael Rooker) and his team of ravagers, after a bounty has been put onto the Guardians from the High Priestess (Elizabeth Debicki) for the aforementioned botched mission. The Guardians must now somehow find a way to deal with both the oncoming threat while also trying to figure out just what lies beneath the surface of Ego’s handsome exterior.

Lack of a driving force

If there’s one immediate issue of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it’s that the story itself doesn’t seem to have a lot driving it forward. Whereas in the first film, the plot was driven by the need to stop baddie Ronan, here there isn’t one clear, distinguishable villain, which therefore makes the story’s purpose uncertain. It all comes together in the end, thankfully, yet the road to get there is marred by a clear lack of momentum.

Many of the middle scenes of the film, instead of being plot-driven, are instead occupied by long-winded conversations between characters, which, albeit refreshing in any action film when it allows the audience to stop and catch their breath, sometimes felt just a little too melodramatic all the same. We already had a chance to get to know these characters in the first film and to understand both their flaws and hidden motives, so in a way, the film’s overuse of heart-to-heart moments was a tad unnecessary. At over 20 minutes longer than its predecessor, one almost wishes that many of these scenes were cut at least a little bit short.

Characters, new and old

The saving grace to the melodrama of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, though, is that the film feels just as character-driven as in the original, an aspect common to Gunn‘s films, in that he takes the time to let his characters grow and develop throughout our time spent with them. The original characters (and actors) are each given their own moment to shine, including Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, and Bradley Cooper as Rocket. Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel with some clear auto-tuning), has his own moments in the film, but he is also thankfully not overused. The cute character is clearly marketing-friendly, but Gunn admirably shows restraint in how much screen-time he actually receives.

Even the characters originally seen as villains in the first film here have heightened roles, such as Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Yondu who, thanks to Michael Rooker, is even more of a scene-stealer than he was previously. It’s a testament to Gunn‘s talent as a writer that he is able to give each individual character a memorable moment in a film occupied by so many.

In addition to the original characters, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 also introduces new ones to the mix, including the mysterious yet charming Ego, wonderfully played by the late-career resurgent Kurt Russell, and the delightfully sweet Mantis, played by Pom Klementieff. Additional characters throughout are perhaps a bit underused in comparison, such as a villain played by Elizabeth Debicki and a ravager played by screen legend Sylvester Stallone. Their underuse, though, is not entirely questionable due to a likely enhanced role in a future film. (Yes, there will be a Vol. 3!)

Awesome Mix: Volume 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 not only refers to the fact that this is the second Guardians film, but also in relation to the mix tape that Peter often plays throughout the film, which is yet another collection of classic, vintage ’70s and ’80s tunes. Played throughout the film at significant moments, often either as an interlude between scenes or in the heat of action, the music drives the film just as well, if not better than its predecessor.

Much like the melodramatic character moments, though, Gunn‘s method of combining characters walking in slow motion with cranked-up songs is sometimes overdone; it’s never unwatchable, especially during one scene which shows Yondu firing up his magic whistling arrow coupled with Come a Little Bit Closer from Jay and the Americans. After so many similar scenes in a row, though, the novelty starts to wear a bit thin. At the same time, just try not to feel riled up when The Chain by Fleetwood Mac starts to play towards the conclusion of the film.

Charm, Humor, and Ultimate Takeaway

The charm of the original Guardians film is one that was infectious, at least in comparison to the wide range of Marvel films out there. Though by all means family-friendly, the film seemed interested in targeting not just kids with its kooky characters and colorful special effects, but in drawing in comic book fans and adults in general, with its many pop culture quips and sometimes lewd sense of humor.

And, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Gunn comes back in full swing. The film will vary from energetic, fast-paced action, to wondrously impressive special effects, especially the Wizard of Oz-inspired candy-colored world of the planet Ego, to a crude joke delivered with impeccable timing. Some of the dialogue, including jokes sexual in nature, makes you wonder just how far Gunn was willing to push the envelope of his PG-13 rating.

The most praiseworthy aspect of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, though, is that it has a heart. As Gunn himself has stated, whereas the first film was about a mother’s love and a boy attempting to reconcile his adult life with the loss of her as a child, this film is about a father figure. In this way, it very much links up to The Empire Strikes Back, a film which Gunn has also stated was an inspiration for his sequel.

Much as in that film, not everything works out quite as expected in the end, as it is in life in general, yet the ultimate takeaway of Vol. 2 is to love and appreciate the people around you, to learn to accept and understand their flaws and, further, to be unconditionally loyal to them. For a film about blue-skinned aliens, a machine-gun wielding raccoon, and an adorable vocabulary-deficient baby tree, that’s quite an impressive feat.

Conclusion

To conclude, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is nearly everything you would have wanted from a Marvel franchise sequel. It has all the charm, humor, and pulse-pounding action of the original film, and though the story itself may have less momentum behind it, it more than makes up for it in its emotional resonance. I’ll admit that I was nervous and shaky at times as to my ultimate verdict about this film, but after walking out of the theater with a huge grin on my face, I was convinced: James Gunn and the Guardians are still a match made in heaven.

How does Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 compare to its predecessor? Tell us in the comments below!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was released in the US on May 5, 2017. For all international release dates, click here.