Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 Review

Introduction (Warning Contains Spoilers)

With an extended version of Avengers: Endgame arriving in cinemas this September, Marvel is attracting renewed attention.

Avengers: Doomsday is also scheduled for December.

That makes this the perfect time for another journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

We have decided to revisit the Marvel films in chronological order. Our journey now brings us to 2017 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

It follows the hugely successful first Guardians of the Galaxy film. James Gunn returns as director and writer.

Chris Pratt returns as Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord. Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel also return.

Michael Rooker receives a bigger role as Yondu Udonta. Karen Gillan also returns as Nebula. The film introduces Kurt Russell as Ego, Peter’s biological father. Pom Klementieff also joins the cast as Mantis.

The story takes place only a few months after the first film. The Guardians have managed to form their group.

Yet, they are not even close to forming an ordinary family yet. They keep quarreling. They keep making mistakes.

And they also keep struggling with their personal pasts. This forms the major issue of the sequel.

In contrast to making another adventure movie, Gunn decides to focus on the development of his characters.

The background of Peter Quill becomes especially interesting. The movie reveals the fate of Peter’s mother.

Peter also meets his real father for the first time. It is an opportunity for him to learn about his origins. But Peter’s life is not the only subject of the movie. Yondu is also well developed.

This sequel gives us greater insight into his relationship with Peter.

This sequel also deals with his difficult relationship with the Ravagers. Emotional depth is also provided to Nebula.

Why her rivalry with Gamora makes sense is clear. Rocket too gets his emotional side expanded.

His aggressive nature is analyzed more deeply. Now he can understand why he distances himself from people.

Drax is the comic relief of the movie. But he finds himself forming an unusual friendship with Mantis as well.

As such, this film definitely features far more character content than its previous movie counterpart.

It is both its greatest strength and weakness. There’s a lot that’s happening. There’s Peter’s father plotline.

There’s Yondu’s redemption plotline. There’s Nebula’s romance with Gamora. There’s Rocket’s emotional conflict.

There’s Drax’s friendship with Mantis. There’s Ego’s own plotline.

The Sovereign also have a continuing role. All of these stories get interconnected towards the end of the movie.

Nonetheless, at times it feels as if Gunn is telling too many stories at once.

This gives the sequel an extra emotional element compared to its predecessor. This also detracts from its focus.

The first movie is all about strangers turning into a family.

The second one questions what happens when they already have a family. Do they get past their personal issues?

Do they learn to trust one another? Do they accept who they have become? These are very interesting questions, but not all of them are answered successfully in the film.

Direction

James Gunn comes back with total confidence in his directing approach. Without a doubt, Vol. 2 feels like his movie.

The vibrant visual effects are still there. The comedy is still there. The weird characters are still there.

What’s more, the story-telling is even more emotional. Gunn knows for sure that people liked the Guardians due to their personalities.

That’s why he decided to develop them. This is an intriguing choice for a superhero sequel.

Sequels often just make everything bigger and better. But Gunn decides to try and make the characters more nuanced.

Peter Quill seems like the natural choice to develop. He had an interesting connection with his mother in the previous movie.

So the next installment delves into the rest of his emotional background. This includes Peter’s connection with his father.

And it includes the development of Peter’s own sense of identity. It gives Chris Pratt much more drama to work with.

Peter himself is also reinterpreted. The same technique is used by the director in regard to other characters.

Rocket stops being just the funny guy. Aggression that he feels is linked to his insecurity.

He is afraid of rejection. He therefore rejects others first. It is a good development of his character.

Yondu gets one of the biggest surprises here. In the first movie, he is shown to be a menace of the Ravagers.

In the sequel, he proves to be much more complex than that. His relationship with Peter Quill is of importance.

He cared for Peter despite treating him with harshness. This character finally gets a proper redemption journey.

Michael Rooker makes the best out of it. His acting adds depth to the character. One of the best decisions Gunn makes with this character is making him more likeable.

The problem is that there is a cost to developing this character. There are just way too many character arcs. Every single character gets their own emotional arc.

Peter gets his father’s. Yondu gets his redemption. Rocket gets his insecurity. Nebula gets her resentfulness. Drax has Mantis.

Mantis gets her emotional revelation. Even Ego gets his fair share of character development.

As standalone narratives, each one would be very interesting. But together, they can be rather overwhelming.

This is when Gunn’s directing skills get a little too ambitious. It’s clear that he wants to give each character something meaningful to do.

The consequence is an occasional overcrowding of the narrative. In addition, the movie keeps its comedic tone.

Humour is employed by Gunn to relieve the tension. This proved to be very effective in the first movie.

In this case, however, the jokes tend to come up too often. There are certain emotional scenes that would need more time.

Instead, another joke is ready to come up. This can be clearly observed especially in some of the calmer character scenes.

Gunn, on the other hand, knows when he should be totally serious. Humour fades away. Emotional effects are then allowed to take charge. This distinction makes the ending successful.

Gunn also possesses a good grasp of music. Soundtrack becomes an important aspect of the movie. Music creates an atmosphere.

Music also brings out the connection between the characters and their memories. Visuals are equally unique. There is color all through the movie.

The worlds are gigantic. The creatures are strange. The spaceships are extremely stylized.

Gunn is not trying to be realistic with his universe. On the contrary, he revels in its comic book nature.

That’s one of the reasons why the movie is so distinct from others in the MCU. The biggest question is whether Gunn’s vision overshoots itself.

In my view, it does on occasion. There are simply too many ideas clamoring for attention.

The director deserves credit for trying to develop everyone. However, stronger discipline could have made the film more effective.

Cinematography

Henry Braham replaces Ben Davis for Volume 2. The film keeps the vibrant look that was introduced in its predecessor.

But the visuals become even more outrageous. They are brighter. They are bigger. The digital backdrops are more complicated.

And at times, the film looks intentionally artificial. It goes well with the storyline. Gunn does not go for realism here.

He is creating a comic-book universe filled with impossible locations. Colour usage is especially effective. There are different visuals for various settings.

The world of Sovereign looks shiny and artificial. In contrast, there are certain darker visual settings of Ravagers.

Ego’s world is probably the best visual feat. The environment is created to symbolize a huge living world. There are bright colours used. Landscapes seem dream-like.

This sets Ego apart from other characters. Ego’s universe seems beautiful in the beginning.

However, as the story unfolds, his universe becomes more and more disturbing.

This is quite an intelligent visual choice. Moreover, the film has great cinematography using scale. The Guardians are always shown in large environments around them.

This emphasizes the size of the universe. However, the camera is always shown up-close on the characters.

This is crucial during the emotional moments. The film switches between close-up shots of the characters and grand landscape shots.

The fight sequences are equally spectacular. A case in point is the opening fight with the Abilisk.

The Guardians fight a monster that is larger than life while Baby Groot dances in the foreground.

The sequence shows how Gunn blends the elements of action and comedy.

The camera work highlights the size of the monster. At the same time, it makes sure the characters are visible.

The Space battles are also quite daring. The camera switches between ships. The effects show great explosions. The Sovereign drones give unique visuals.

At times, the action becomes visually overwhelming. There are a lot of objects in motion at once.

The visuals of the movie are intentionally overdone. This is part of its appeal..It can also become tiresome.

The cinematography therefore reflects both the strengths and weaknesses of the film. It is imaginative. It is colourful. It is distinctive. However, it can occasionally become too busy.

Visual Effects

The visual effects are one of the greatest successes of this movie. Volume 2 widens the scope compared to its predecessor.

There are many digital characters and backgrounds in the movie. Rocket and Groot need lots of special effects again. Baby Groot stands out especially.

It was necessary for the creators to make the character even smaller than before. He has more expressive movements. Facial expressions of Baby Groot matter a lot.

This character had the potential to be quite annoying. However, the effects actually give him a charming quality.

Visual effects also help to make Rocket seem alive. His fur seems extremely realistic. His facial expressions are very realistic as well.

He interacts well with the other actors. This is important. If Rocket seemed digital, the emotional parts wouldn’t have worked. The same goes for Groot.

The effects work well as the characters have physical presence.

The film also builds huge environments. Ego’s world stands out especially. The world looks like it just goes on forever.

There are mountains, forests, and odd buildings. The effects contribute to giving the planet life.

The Sovereign drones are another example of the technological ambitions of the film. The drones move quickly and precisely.

Space combat is full of imaginary spacecrafts. The filmmakers even make some large explosions. However, it provokes the same question as before. Did they use too much of visual effects?

To me, this film makes too much noise relative to its predecessor. Visual effects are excellent for most part. However, the problem is not in their quality. It is in their quantity.

There is so much happening visually that some scenes become overwhelming.

The final battle is the clearest example. Multiple characters are fighting. There are enormous explosions. There are digital environments.

There are spacecraft. There are different powers being used.

The result is spectacular. It is also extremely busy. The film sometimes feels like it is competing with itself.

Each scene aims to outshine the preceding one. This is an issue that affects the vast majority of blockbuster sequels.

The initial installment of Guardians was refreshing because of the way its visual effects complemented the characters.

Vol. 2 at times fails in allowing the spectacle to take over. However, the film’s visual effects are still commendable.

In fact, the movie was nominated for the Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category. The digital characters remain particularly strong.

The balance is therefore good overall. However, I would have preferred slightly more restraint.

Themes and Storyline

The theme of family is very prominent in Vol. 2. In contrast, the approach towards family in the movie differs from that taken by its precursor.

While the former was concerned with the search for a family, the latter involves the discovery of what family truly means.

Peter is interested in meeting his real father. For most of his life, Peter had been trying to find out who his father was.

Initially, it seems that Ego has answered that question for him.

It sets up an emotional basis for the narrative.
Unluckily, the reasons for Ego becoming more alarming.

Peter finds out that his father was not who he thought. He needs to think about his concept of what family means.

In other words, the narrative reveals that biology cannot be used to determine family.

It is about the individuals that stand by your side.
This can be linked directly to Yondu. Yondu was not a conventional father figure.

This ties in directly with Yondu. Yondu was no typical dad. He treated Peter very roughly.

But he showed love at the end. This is what makes Yondu’s story very impressive. His redemption is one of the best things about the movie.

The movie also builds up Nebula and Gamora. They have a rivalry based on many years of it.

Nebula thinks Gamora was always the favorite of Thanos. Her resentment has colored her entire existence.

The follow-up movie finally gives her an opportunity to express her pain. It helps Nebula gain more emotional depth. Karen Gillan capitalizes on the role.

Rocket’s storyline is all about self-respect. He always pushes people away. He thinks he is essentially different from all other beings. This makes his bond with Yondu significant.

Both characters suffer from loneliness. That is why they get each other. Another story line comes from Drax and Mantis. The start of their relationship is full of humor. Then it turns out to be meaningful.

Mantis can feel the emotions. Drax cannot hide his feelings from Mantis. That is how one more theme of grief is shown in the movie.

But there are simply too many themes in the movie.

The concept of family is the main idea. However, the movie also touches upon identity, loneliness, death, and redemption.

These themes can each sustain an independent movie..In trying to incorporate them all into the movie plot, there is some inconsistency in the narrative.

Indeed, the movie story itself is complex. There are various groups. There are various planets. There are conflicting motivations of the characters.

The story about the Sovereign is entertaining. However, at times, it seems irrelevant to the movie’s central plot line.

Thus, the movie includes many things. The movie’s running time is about two hours and sixteen minutes.

This time frame is appropriate considering the complexity of the story. However, the story looks overloaded. Some subplots could be cut.

It would be better to focus on Peter and Yondu. Their stories are emotionally compelling. Other character arcs could reinforce those two stories.

Instead, all the characters get considerable attention. This fact makes the movie ambitious. This fact makes it diffuse as well. It also makes it less focused.

Performances

Chris Pratt gives Peter Quill more emotional depth. Peter still is a funny guy. But Chris Pratt makes Peter more vulnerable. His bond with his mother still matters.

He really seems excited to meet Ego. Also, he feels disappointed in Ego. So Chris Pratt gets more chances to show his range.

Zoe Saldaña continues to give Gamora strength. She also gets more emotional material. Her relationship with Nebula becomes particularly important. Saldaña makes Gamora’s frustration understandable.

Karen Gillan is one of the film’s biggest surprises. Nebula receives considerably more development.

Gillan gives the character anger and vulnerability. She makes it clear that Nebula’s bitterness comes from years of emotional damage.

Bautista continues to be funny as Drax. The actor is totally committed in his role. The character’s inability to grasp social etiquette is one of the funniest aspects of the movie.

Klementieff makes Mantis into an endearing character. She could have easily been another comic relief character. Klementieff, however, infuses her with innocence and vulnerability.

The relationship between Mantis and Drax is especially funny.

Bradley Cooper once more voices Rocket. He infuses Rocket with an abundance of attitude. But now the more serious elements take over. Insecure Rocket provides Cooper with even more drama.

Vin Diesel once again brings Groot to life. Baby Groot has hardly any lines. But he makes up for that with his actions.

Michael Rooker should get his due credit. Yondu evolves into one of the major characters in the film. Humour is one of the many traits Rooker adds to the character. He adds true emotional intensity to the character.

His bonding with Peter becomes more heartwarming. Kurt Russell adds immense charm to Ego. He comes across as loving and paternal at first glance. Russell gradually reveals a colder side.

The performance works particularly well during the darker revelations.

Elizabeth Debicki plays Ayesha with exaggerated confidence. She fits the film’s comic-book tone. However, the Sovereign storyline sometimes feels more comedic than necessary.

Overall, the performances are excellent. The cast clearly understands Gunn’s unusual tone.

The characters can be ridiculous one moment. They can be deeply emotional the next. That balance is difficult to achieve.

What Worked and What Did Not

There are many good things about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Character development is the main good thing about the film.

It’s evident that Gunn doesn’t copy himself from the first film. He examines reasons behind these characters’ actions.

Peter’s background is well described. His relation to his mother becomes more important. He tries to find his father too.

Redemption for Yondu is well done. Peter’s bond with him takes on more significance. Even Nebula gets more screen time.

Gamora and her bond become more complex. There’s even Rocket, whose insecurity gives him emotion.

These elements help the Guardians feel like characters. The acting is another big strength of the film.

Michael Rooker is particularly impressive. Chris Pratt also demonstrates greater dramatic range.

The visual style is another success. The film looks unmistakably like a James Gunn production. The colours are bold. The environments are imaginative. The soundtrack remains excellent.

The visual effects are technically impressive. Rocket, Groot and Ego’s planet are particularly effective.

Humour also continues to be a great strength. Nevertheless, the film’s aspirations become its greatest weakness.

There are just too many stories. Peter has his father. Yondu has his redemption.

Rocket has his insecurity. Nebula has her story with Gamora. Drax has his story with Mantis.

Mantis has her own personal development. The Sovereign have their subplot.

Ego has its own motives. Each of these aspects carries weight.

Combined together, they contribute to making this movie ever more crowded.

This narrative can be seen as multiple films vying for attention.

And the comedy becomes too much. Gunn does not let the film stay serious for too long.

It works beautifully some times. Not so much at others. The final battle scene is one of those.

It is stunning. But the scale of visuals and storytelling becomes huge.

The movie wants to create an emotional ending. It also wants to create a massive superhero finale. Sometimes both goals conflict with each other. The villain subplot is another problem.

Ego is more captivating than Ronan. But his motivation is predictable in the end. Sovereigns are fun to watch.

They do not always seem to be necessary. But the movie has lots of good stuff in it. There is just too much of it. This is a key difference. The issue is not that the separate stories are poor.

The issue is that there are too many separate stories. It would not have taken much self-restraint for the movie to be far better.

Overall Verdict

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a bold sequel full of emotion. Gunn should be commended for not being content with just repeating the first movie.

On the contrary, he makes an effort to develop his characters. The history of Peter Quill becomes essential to the plot.

His relationship with his mother is highlighted. His attempt to find his biological father is another thing that plays an important role.

The development of Yondu is probably the most remarkable of all. His relationship with Peter becomes much more complex.

His redemption is one of the most emotional parts of the movie. Gamora and Nebula also get better character development.

Rocket’s insecurities add depth to his character. Drax and Mantis add a lot of humor. The style of the movie is definitely recognizable – it is Gunn’s trademark.

The colors are vivid. The settings are quite original. The soundtrack is still essential to the narration. The visual effects are impressive.

Rocket and Baby Groot especially stand out. So does the planet of Ego. However, this movie’s flaw is directly connected to its ambitions. There are too many subplots.

Pretty much every character has their emotional story.

It can feel rather crowded. Not all stories are created equal.

The movie needed more concentration. There can be too much comedy. There are some emotional moments that get interrupted with jokes.

The finale battle is very impressive visually. Yet it also becomes very crowded at the same time.

In spite of everything, it is still fun. It has a real emotional core to it. The characters are more developed than before.

The actors do a great job. Michael Rooker is simply amazing in his portrayal of Yondu.

Chris Pratt made Peter more vulnerable. James Gunn’s visual aesthetics are also a definite strong point of the movie.

It is colorful, odd and unmistakably his. In my opinion, the Vol. 2 is not as coherent as the original.

Yet it is emotionally more complex. While the original introduced us to the Guardians, the sequel tries to understand them. It makes it an interesting follow up.

Sometimes, it doesn’t know where to draw the line. It tries to fit in too much. Yet the best parts are truly impressive. The Yondu storyline alone provides a lot of emotional charge.

Ultimately, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a strong sequel with an overcrowded story. It succeeds because its characters remain likeable and emotionally engaging.

Its weaknesses come from trying to give everyone too much to do.