Guardian of the Galaxy: Volume 2 - Review
Director: James Gunn
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Kurt Russell
The time has arrived, a-holes! The Guardians of the Galaxy are back, and this time, they're bolder, brighter and more ballsy than ever before. Once considered Marvel's greatest risk, James Gunn and his creation have certainly earned their stripes, both in terms of box office success and critical/fan praise - but can the highly anticipated sequel sustain the acclaim?
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and co have firmly established themselves as the Guardians of the Galaxy and are hired by a powerful and regal alien race, the Sovereign, to protect their batteries from foulsome creatures However, the Sovereign discover that Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) has stolen their precious cargo and send their forces to pursue and take vengeance on the space rogues. As the Guardians scarper for their lives, they soon discover the identity of Peter's long-lost father.
It's more than fair to accuse Marvel of adhering to an inflexible formula when it comes to their film properties, but each director brings their own unique flavour to the alchemy. The Russo brothers flex a strong political-thriller influence on the Captain America saga whereas Scott Derrickson harnesses a psychedelic approach to Doctor Strange. However, James Gunn's schtick has always been humour, and the plentitude of jokes that are rattled through in both Guardians of the Galaxy and the subsequent Volume 2 is unparalleled to any other Marvel film. But Volume 2 introduces and engenders a spectrum of genuine emotion and suggests that Gunn has been cut a set of keys to the Marvel kingdom as his creative fingerprints are evident all over the picture. Consider Volume 2 to be Gunn's The Empire Strikes Back as he delves into familial bonds and dissects the meaning of the word "family".
If the first instalment of the franchise was all about the quirky quintet becoming the heavily uttered six-letter "F" word, then its sequel explores their entrenched dynamic, as well as the individual Guardians personal struggles with the concept. Arguably, the most compelling of the bunch is the storyline elegantly crafted between Gamora and her sister, Nebula. Their relationship is initially one founded on jealously and rivalry as they fought for the approval of their adopted father, Thanos, but as details of their abusive and traumatic upbringing are revealed, the script achieves impressive depth and emotional pull. The MCU are sparse with their female characters, and it's a rarity that they are allowed to interact with each other in such a meaningful capacity as they are here. However, Gunn's deft touch with emotion does not always translate with comedy as several jokes are forced until they become irritating. For example, a joke surrounding the absurd name of a Ravager was perhaps much more amusing at the table-read and a gag with Baby Groot and his inability to remember instructions outstays its welcome and raises an illogical story beat.
Thankfully, when the jokes hit the mark, they pierce the bullseye and although Drax (Dave Bautista) is the vehicle for delivering the highest volume of quips, it's Michael Rooker's Yondu that scores the biggest laughs (for words: I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!). It's because of such wonderful comic delivery and significant character development that Yondu emerges as the surprise standout amongst the characters, both fresh and existing. He's the steely Ravager with a soul, and it's that personality defect that places him in danger. Yondu's nuanced arc and Rooker's fantastic performance are two of the most satisfying of their kind that the MCU has ever delivered.
Although guilty of descending into a mass of CGI action in the film's third act, Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2 stirs emotion that feels so very real - even when the scenery most definitely isn't.
EB
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Kurt Russell
The time has arrived, a-holes! The Guardians of the Galaxy are back, and this time, they're bolder, brighter and more ballsy than ever before. Once considered Marvel's greatest risk, James Gunn and his creation have certainly earned their stripes, both in terms of box office success and critical/fan praise - but can the highly anticipated sequel sustain the acclaim?Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and co have firmly established themselves as the Guardians of the Galaxy and are hired by a powerful and regal alien race, the Sovereign, to protect their batteries from foulsome creatures However, the Sovereign discover that Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) has stolen their precious cargo and send their forces to pursue and take vengeance on the space rogues. As the Guardians scarper for their lives, they soon discover the identity of Peter's long-lost father.
It's more than fair to accuse Marvel of adhering to an inflexible formula when it comes to their film properties, but each director brings their own unique flavour to the alchemy. The Russo brothers flex a strong political-thriller influence on the Captain America saga whereas Scott Derrickson harnesses a psychedelic approach to Doctor Strange. However, James Gunn's schtick has always been humour, and the plentitude of jokes that are rattled through in both Guardians of the Galaxy and the subsequent Volume 2 is unparalleled to any other Marvel film. But Volume 2 introduces and engenders a spectrum of genuine emotion and suggests that Gunn has been cut a set of keys to the Marvel kingdom as his creative fingerprints are evident all over the picture. Consider Volume 2 to be Gunn's The Empire Strikes Back as he delves into familial bonds and dissects the meaning of the word "family".
If the first instalment of the franchise was all about the quirky quintet becoming the heavily uttered six-letter "F" word, then its sequel explores their entrenched dynamic, as well as the individual Guardians personal struggles with the concept. Arguably, the most compelling of the bunch is the storyline elegantly crafted between Gamora and her sister, Nebula. Their relationship is initially one founded on jealously and rivalry as they fought for the approval of their adopted father, Thanos, but as details of their abusive and traumatic upbringing are revealed, the script achieves impressive depth and emotional pull. The MCU are sparse with their female characters, and it's a rarity that they are allowed to interact with each other in such a meaningful capacity as they are here. However, Gunn's deft touch with emotion does not always translate with comedy as several jokes are forced until they become irritating. For example, a joke surrounding the absurd name of a Ravager was perhaps much more amusing at the table-read and a gag with Baby Groot and his inability to remember instructions outstays its welcome and raises an illogical story beat.
Thankfully, when the jokes hit the mark, they pierce the bullseye and although Drax (Dave Bautista) is the vehicle for delivering the highest volume of quips, it's Michael Rooker's Yondu that scores the biggest laughs (for words: I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!). It's because of such wonderful comic delivery and significant character development that Yondu emerges as the surprise standout amongst the characters, both fresh and existing. He's the steely Ravager with a soul, and it's that personality defect that places him in danger. Yondu's nuanced arc and Rooker's fantastic performance are two of the most satisfying of their kind that the MCU has ever delivered.
Although guilty of descending into a mass of CGI action in the film's third act, Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2 stirs emotion that feels so very real - even when the scenery most definitely isn't.
EB
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