Today’s quick review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The Guardians of the Galaxy (Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, and Vin Diesel), a crew of misfits with a knack for causing trouble, end up in a sticky situation when they are attacked by the Sovereign, their former clients. Ego (Kurt Russell), a man claiming to be Peter Quill’s father, offers a timely save, while the Guardians’ old enemies take up the Sovereign’s bounty on their heads.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a science fiction action adventure with a hefty dose of comedy. Based on the Marvel Comics characters, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 picks up the plot threads and character arcs of the first film. The sequel delivers the same blend of sci-fi action, quirky humor, technicolor visual design, state-of-the-art special effects, and 80s nostalgia that made the original a success.
Compared to the first movie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has a somewhat unusual story. The backbone of the plot involves the return of Peter Quill’s alleged estranged father, an event of personal but not galactic significance. This unstructured center is buttressed by several more conventional subplots, continuing the character development begun in the first film and picking up the stories of Yondu (Michael Rooker) and Nebula (Karen Gillan).
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a highly entertaining watch. Its comic tone continues to be spot-on, its characters are near-perfect antiheroes, and its creativity in setting, visual design, and presentation makes the movie a wild and unique ride. To top it all off, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 introduces several promising plot hooks that should pay off in movies to come, particularly for fans of Marvel’s cosmic comics.
Watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 if you have enjoyed any of Marvel’s latest offerings. The sequel has all the quality of the first, but with a less conventional plot and a new selection of 80s hits for its soundtrack. Skip it if you like your space opera dramatic or your sci-fi plausible.
8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.5 for action, style, and all-around fun.