Guardians of the Galaxy Volume II Movie Review

Released: 28th April 2017 (UK)

Length: 136 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: James Gunn

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff and Kurt Russel

Drawing a surprisingly strong following in 2014, the original Guardians of the Galaxy firmly planted some less recognisable characters into the MCU fold. With the sequel, they take another step towards becoming just as well-recognised and enjoyed as their Earth counterparts.

Picking up where the last one left off, Peter Quill/Starlord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket Racoon (Bradley Cooper) and baby Groot (Vin Diesel) are mercenaries for hire, taking out an ugly looking alien as the film opens. Thanks to Rocket’s opportunistic ways, the team ends up angering their gold-painted employers (led by Elizabeth Debicki’s Ayesha) but soon come across Peter Quill’s father Ego (Kurt Russel), an interstellar traveller with more than his fair share of secrets. In turn, the team is also being tracked by Gamora’s sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) and the disgruntled Yonda Udonta (Michael Rooker) who seems to be having a bit of trouble with his band of space pirates. Everything you enjoyed in the first Guardians is here and accounted for but the comedic moments flow a lot better here and when combined with the theme of family, Volume 2 feels a lot more personal than the first. There are still some plot elements which feel rushed or underdeveloped, most notably the Ravagers as an organisation and Starlord’s eventual discovery but the film has a lot more momentum than the original; the team is split for the first half and this allows further chemistry to be created between specific characters. Things eventually intersect in a gravity defying finale that plants our heroes into a pretty impossible situation that I won’t spoil here. You’ll find it to be a tight and focused adventure all-around.

Guardians Vol II does its predecessor proud when it comes to introducing new characters while giving others more to do. Starlord and Rocket still make for some laidback moments and the former’s moments with his father contribute plenty towards the original’s plot threads. Despite this tone, the other characters often get more comedic relief; Drax really gets into it this time around and the conversations he has with newcomer Mantis (played by Canadian actress Pom Klementieff) gets many laughs out of the audience. Baby Groot’s cuteness is matched only by the hilarity involving getting him to follow instructions. Michael Rooker’s Yonda also goes through a fair amount of conflict for this entry, a welcomed upgrade from his performance in the original film. The bond between Gamora and Nebula has a particularly nuanced moment too, further reinforcing the family ties that permeate the film’s narrative. Kurt Russel’s debut in the MCU works out for the best, bringing in that eighties persona he embodied all too well in previous decades. If there’s one character lacking, it’s Sylvester Stallone’s incredibly brief appearance as a Ravager general; perhaps we may see more of him in future films.

Bursting out of the screen in a flurry of vibrant colour with some outstanding special and makeup effects, Vol II boasts the snazzier looking locales of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date with gorgeous looking planets replacing the older, more industrialised planets from before. Ego eventually takes the team to a planet and its look and style have their fair share of symbolism from an egg-shaped ship to dazzling hallways marked by vegetation. Convincing computer effects go a long way towards selling these far-off places and their size but the make-up work could be even more detailed. The look of the Ravagers and the alien races that comprise their forces contrast with the spotless gold of the Sovereign people. The action itself is kept at medium framing most of the time and the special effects never obscure the characters. Tyler Bates tossed in a wicked sense of eighties nostalgia in the original film and he does it again here with another fantastic soundtrack featuring the likes of Cat Stevens, Sam Cooke and Fleetwood Mac. The use of Father and Son in the film’s final act is one highlight, a close accompaniment the film’s central themes. Visually and audibly, Guardians II is a treat to experience; considering how the first film also took this focus and ran with it, this is hardly a surprise.

The Guardian’s second outing is an A+ sequel, deepening the characters and achieving a better balance all-around; by taking its time to connect with the more distant Marvel characters, it’s still able to carve its own place in the cinematic universe, one which can only grow bigger as the franchise rumbles on.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Brilliant)