REVIEW: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

It seems so quaint nowadays to think that Guardians of the Galaxy was once considered a risky venture for Marvel Studios. Back in the summer of 2014, a multi-million dollar investment in one of Marvel's more out-there and obscure properties helmed by a director who primarily worked on schlocky indie horror films seemed like quite the odd choice. Many assumed it would be the studio's first big flop, the first chink in the armor of the MCU. Iron Man and Thor had become household names, but there was no way that mainstream, non-comic-reading audiences would respond to a movie starring a talking raccoon zipping through the cosmos alongside a talking tree. Lo and behold, Marvel's gamble paid off and the film went on to be one of the series' most popular (not to mention profitable) ventures, a surprisingly heartfelt space opera chock-full of gorgeous visuals, endearing characters, and unexpectedly in-depth reverence for its cosmic source material. Considering that it was a runaway success, it's no surprise that James Gunn and crew are back with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, a sequel that gives us more of everything we loved the first time around, both for better and for worse.

Taking place a mere three months after the events of the first film (essentially making this a period piece set in 2014), the titular Guardians have since gone on to become renowned as cosmic do-gooders for hire. After a lucrative monster-slaying contract goes south, the gang of misfits find themselves on the run again, both from the totalitarian regime of the Sovereign and the gang of space pirates known as the Ravagers. This is when they come across an enigmatic being known as Ego (Kurt Russell), an ancient celestial god (and living planet) who claims to be Peter Quill's (Chris Pratt) biological father. What follows is an appropriately absurd galaxy-hopping adventure chock full of twists, humor, and gratuitous cameos, all held together by an unexpectedly hard-hitting theme of parenthood and the responsibility that comes with it.

The first Guardians film succeeded, not only because of its colorful visuals, imaginative settings, and classic rock soundtrack, but also because of how it took a bizarre, fantastical premise and tied it to an easily recognizable human element. The idea of downtrodden misfits finding a sense of family in one another is an idea used in everything from The Breakfast Club to The Goonies; it's a classic story convention that helps the audience connect with all the weird space-creatures fighting over magical rocks. Something of a cliché, sure, but it is the way in which this idea is presented that keeps it from coming off as overly-trite and done-before. Vol. 2 goes for something a little grander in scope, which is respectable. The film explores the dynamics of what exactly defines a family, and how that can factor into dealing with the ghosts of one's past. Literally every main character in this film has had to deal with some sort of hardship early on in life, and the film sets out to illustrate that it's the people who help us through these hardships who truly deserve to be called family. We see what happens to those with a support system and to those who go it alone; in terms of subtext, Guardians 2 is a tightly-wound clock, every proverbial cog and gear meshing together perfectly.

Unfortunately, the stronger emphasis on characterization means less focus on the plot and pacing, both of which suffer when compared to the first film. After our gang of Guardians arrive on Ego's planet, things slow down considerably and, aside from a few enjoyable sequences here and there, don't really pick up until the massive dramatic turn that kicks off the third act. There are also moments in which the film feels as though it may be trying a bit too hard; as I said, everything we loved in the first movie is here in even greater amounts, for better or for worse. There's far more comedic relief which, though well-written and effective for the most part, seems to undercut some of the more dramatic and serious moments the film has to offer. There are loads of genuine laughs here, but the film feels far too eager to make us smile at times, to the point that tonal dissonance begins to really feel like a genuine problem at some points (specifically around the ending).

That said, there are also a number of ways that Vol. 2 builds and improves upon the groundwork laid by the first Guardians film. One of the most striking elements of the first movie was its use of classic rock songs; the soundtrack was immensely well-received and became one of the iconic, defining elements associated with the film. The pressure was on James Gunn to make sure that Awesome Mix Vol. 2 lived up to its predecessor, and I'm happy to report that it doesn't disappoint. It's clear that tremendous care was taken in regards to the specific songs and lyrics that are implemented, tying in explicitly with the plot, characters, and themes of the film (the most impressive examples being the film's use of The Chain by Fleetwood Mac and Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass). While the inclusion of these songs can feel a little mandated at times, the music is certainly one of the details that is sure to only improve upon repeat viewings. 

As mentioned before, the human element and characterization at play here are stronger than ever before. While the first film had a number of memorable and endearing character moments, it feels here as though every main character gets a moment to shine this time around. I was truly relieved that Baby Groot (Vin Diesel, appropriately pitched-up for comedic effect) wasn't the irritating toy mascot I feared he'd be; James Gunn swore that the character's infantile appearance and mindset served a greater thematic purpose beyond simply selling ample amounts of merchandise, and damned if he wasn't telling the truth. Characters like Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper/Sean Gunn) and Yondu (Michael Rooker) are given more to do this time around, proving that some characters can completely steal the show if you give them the chance. I also positively adored the new additions to the cast, namely Pom Klementieff (as the innocent and empathetic Mantis) and Kurt Russell as Ego the Living Planet. Now, while I rarely dabble in spoiler territory, I feel as though it's necessary to discuss certain specific plot elements in order to review this film properly. If you've not seen the film yet, I recommend it; while it falls short of its predecessor in some key areas, it most assuredly improves in others (especially during the phenomenal climax). All in all, I enjoyed myself and would gladly go see it again (if only to really dissect the film further, without scanning every shot for some hidden reference or cameo). With that out of the way...

SPOILER ALERT: the remainder of this Review spoils key plot elements of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!

If there is one egregious error that so many Marvel films are guilty of (including the first Guardians of the Galaxy), it's the franchise's history of lackluster and half-baked villains. For every Loki or Killgrave, it seems that there's a dozen Malekiths and Kaeciliuses; characters that, compared to the protagonists, are criminally underwritten and lacking in any kind of fleshed-out motivation. They serve merely as obstacles that our heroes have to punch and/or blast out of the way once it's time for the climax to take place. Which is why I'm so happy that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 successfully bucks this trend with Kurt Russell's take on Ego the Living Planet. James Gunn insisted that the majority of footage used in the advertisements for this film only come from the first 20 minutes; anything else had to be shown completely without any context. It seems this strategy paid off in the long run, since the film completely threw me for a genuine loop. 

I was originally led to believe that the primary antagonist would either be Ayesha (the high priestess of the Sovereign, played by Elizabeth Debicki) or Taserface (a mutinous pirate who takes control of Yondu's crew, played by Chris Sullivan). Both were built up as the main threat, and it was only when we were completely comfortable with Ego's presence that his true intentions were revealed. It's not often that I audibly gasp during a movie; frankly, it's not often that I hear anyone audibly gasp during a movie. But the second Kurt Russell casually delivers his line about killing Peter's mother, all the air was sucked out of the theater. That, to me, is proof of an effective and well-crafted villain. That was the film's "Luke, I am your father" moment. While the film definitely drags in some areas, everything from that moment at the end of the second act onward is unquestionably excellent, bringing everything to a head for an exciting, emotional climax.

While I wouldn't necessarily say that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is better than its predecessor, it definitely has its moments. Like the first film, this is a gorgeously-shot space opera that utterly revels in the more bizarre aspects of Marvel's long and colorful history (the mandatory appearance by Stan Lee left me positively giddy with excitement this time around). The pacing suffers noticeably around the second act, but it more than makes up for it with its intense, emotionally-charged conclusion. Each character is fleshed out to an impressive degree and the movie exhibits masterful control and understanding of its subtextual themes, incorporating them into everything from its plot to its characterization to its soundtrack. Yes, it has its flaws, but this is a film that is overall very hard to dislike. It bit off more than it could chew, but it still manages to swallow and digest a commendable amount of content. Not quite Marvel's best, but it's certainly up there.