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When it was released in 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy took everyone completely by surprise. Featuring a cast of relatively unknown characters, Marvel took a risk introducing the group to its cinematic universe and roster of iconic superheroes ingrained in popular culture like Iron Man, Hulk and Captain America.
Not only did it turn out to be a massive commercial success, it topped many critics’ (including yours truly’s) film of the year list. The second time around, the task was a whole lot tougher. That element of surprise, the freshness with which the Guardians exploded onto our screens three years ago, has gone, so could they deliver?
The answer is an emphatic ‘yes’, and then some. Catching lightning in a bottle even once is every director’s dream, but somehow, James Gunn has done it twice.
Vol. 2 kicks off a few months after the events of the original, with the Guardians’ reputation now spread across the galaxy. They’re heroes-for-hire and are working a mission for the hilariously-conceited Sovereign.
Things quickly go awry when Rocket (Cooper) steals some of the items the Guardians were supposed to be protecting, and the team goes to the top of the Sovereign’s to-kill list for slighting the golden, genetically-advanced race.
The Guardians trying to stay one step ahead of the Sovereign and the team of Ravagers hired to kill them is the main thrust of the action of Vol. 2, but the real heart of this movie is Peter Quill (Pratt) meeting his father at long last. Kurt Russell’s Ego is the star man who impregnated Peter’s mother, and it doesn’t take long for him to show up and introduce himself to his son and set the true emotional narrative in motion.
While the first film was about bringing the team together, this is about testing that bond and balancing each other’s egos as they learn to work together. Vol. 2 has a different feel than the original, with various members of the team splintering off and pursuing their own path for large chunks of the runtime before coming together for the grand and thrilling finale.
Although occasionally you pine for the team to be back together and exchanging wisecracks, the shake-up of the formula allows for deeper individual character development and for chemistry to brew between personalities you’d never expect, leading to some excellent moments. The ending, in particular, packs huge emotional weight and has consequences that will send tremors through the future of the MCU.
One thing the original nailed was the humour, which was rife with amazing one-liners and slapstick moments. Vol. 2 ratchets this up even further, and at one point I was almost begging the projectionist to press pause so I could allow my sides to recover. Drax the Destroyer (Bautista) gets the best of these quips, hysterically parading around like a joke jukebox now he’s been liberated from his inability to grasp metaphor.
Also, a word for Baby Groot (Vin Diesel), who steals the show in all three acts with a mixture of dancing, infantile incompetence and implausible cuteness. Who knew that a completely digital creation could extract such emotion from an audience?
It’s a given that Vol 2 is as beautiful to look at as the first movie, with its bright, psychedelic aesthetic getting some more 1970s influences this time around. There’s enough neon to light up Tokyo and the new planets look fantastic, even if they aren’t explored quite as much as you’d like.
Similarly, Gunn writing the soundtrack into the script makes Awesome Mix Vol. 2 impactful just like its predecessor, and it’s smart he leaned into more obscure hits versus shifting into more well-known pop music. Expect this album to sell like hot-cakes and be talked about for years, too.
Seeing the film on the huge IMAX screen at Novo Cinemas in Seef Mall Muharraq certainly helped portray the space-faring on a grand scale, with every blue pore of alien skin and speck of cosmic sand visible, while the booming speakers blasted out your mum’s favourite karaoke numbers in crystal clear sound.
Ultimately, Vol. 2 is every bit as good as the first film, despite having a different feel to it. Is it better? The giddy fan in me wants to say yes having it so fresh in my mind. See it immediately!
Showing in: Novo, Cineco, Seef II, Wadi Al Sail and Saar.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper
Director: James Gunn
Genre: Superhero
Rating: PG-15
Running Time: 136 minutes
