Those who know me know that I absolutely adored the first Guardians of the Galaxy, to a degree where it was both my favorite film of both the year in which it came and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general. Part of that was because its then refreshing sci-fi comic book pulp, bubblegum-pop approach clicked with me so well, its also a film that holds a special place in my heart because I saw it the same day I experienced a personal lowpoint in my life. Anyway, my point is that I have a very big attachment to the first movie.
So, how is this highly anticipated sequel? Personally, not only do I think that this is on par with the first movie, it might be even better than the original. Does it have the same impact and feeling of that made the first one so great? No, but, there's no way it could've done that, not genuinely. Aside from not being a disappoint, what sets this apart from other sequels in the MCU is how its primary focus isn't on setting Although it certainly isn't without its fair share of crowd-pleasing callbacks and fan-pleasing Easter eggs, the assembled cast and crew have decided to make this follow-up far more personal than the first and the results are all the better for it. Since the first movie already made these characters charming, Volume 2 takes them in interesting new directions that I'd feel remorseful if I were inclined to spoil them here.
Chris Pratt's Star Lord is just as likable and as Star-Lord. Zoe Saldana continues to be the straightwoman in a group of offbeat personalities while still being more than just a stick in the mud, Dave Bautista is still consistently hilarious as Drax. Michael Rooker really shines as Yondu, bringing more tragedy and depth to the character. Kurt Russel is, of course, great as Star-Lord's unearthly father in ways that are quite unexpected (at least, not to the common moviegoer). Elizabeth Debicki shines with enthusiastic conceitedness as the film's gilded secondary villain, Ayesha. To say that Baby Groot is absolutely adorable should just... well, go without saying. Even Sean Gunn's Kraglin and Karen Gillan's Nebula are revealed to have more layers that distinguish them from being just generic supporting characters. Special mention should also be given to newcomer Pom Klementieff as Mantis. Her portrayal imbues the character with shades of shy innocence and warmth that complements the rest of the cast quite nicely.
Outside of Doctor Strange, this is easily Marvel's best looking film to date. With its rich seems to proudly draw from the original comics of the 70s and 80s (most notably resembling the portfolios of Jim Starlin and Gene Colan). Like last time, the soundtrack is wonderfully vintage. From the opening credits sequence set to ELO's classic "Mr. Blue Sky" to the effectively heartbreaking use of Cat Steven's "Father and Son", mad genius writer-director James Gunn has curated yet another eclectic mix of classic tunes that'll keep me humming for months on end.
Ultimately, as cliche as this comparison is, I think the two Guardians of the Galaxy films released thus far are comparable to the first two films in the original Star Wars trilogy. While the first one might have had a bigger impact culturally speaking, its the sequel that ends up providing a deeper, emotionally nuanced and poignant when all is said and done. While this installment certainly doesn't lack in the explosive set-piece department, its the emotionally peaks and valleys that will stick with me as time goes on.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 gets a...
MASTERWORK out of TEN
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