Re-Visiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

 "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" (2017)

I don't want to say the original "Guardians of the Galaxy" was a surprise hit because at this point is it really a surprise when an MCU movie is a hit? I don't think anyone expected the characters to be such immediate fan favorites, though. It's nice to take a little break from the Infinity Saga and head back into space with our favorite outcasts.

Principal photography on "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" began in February 2016 and concluded in June 2016. The film starred Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Vin Diesel as the voice of Baby Groot, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord and Kurt Russell as Ego. The film was written and directed by James Gunn. It was released on May 5, 2017.

Suck it, Baby Yoda

Let's get this out of the way up front. "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to the "Guardians" franchise. This is more of the same with some updates and that isn't a criticism. It's well done and there is enough new pathos and things to keep it from feeling like a straight up re-tread. 

The plot of the sequel is as follows:

The Guardians are hired by a golden alien race called the Sovereign to protect their powerful batteries from a large alien creature in exchange for Nebula. For no discernible reason, Rocket pockets a few of the batteries, enraging the Sovereign's High Priestess, Ayesha who sends her army after them. The crew barely escape with some help from a "man" named Ego and his empath, servant, Mantis. It turns out that Ego is Peter's estranged father. Peter, Drax and Gamora leave Rocket and Groot with the captive Nebula to repair the ship and travel to Ego's planet outside of known space. Once they are gone, Rocket is betrayed by Nebula and captured by Ravagers hired by Ayesha and let by the mutineer, Taserface. It turns out Ego is a god-like being called a Celestial and he has passed that along to Peter. Peter is initially enamored with his long lost dad, but that fades when he finds out that Ego wants to use him to pollinate flowers he left on various worlds including Earth to make them extensions of himself. And that he planted the brain tumor in Peter's mom because he loved her so much he would have stayed with him. The Guardians come back together and try to stop Ego's plan.

Whew. That's a lot. Let's chat a little bit about the additions to this sequel starting with Baby Groot. Before everyone was fawning over Baby Yoda it was all about Baby Groot. And even know, he's goddamned adorable. He's also kind of vicious when you piss him off. People all up in arms about Baby Yoda eating some frog eggs, but Baby Groot was killing bitches left and right. Baby Groot provides some of the movies funniest sequences like when Yondu and Rocket are trying to get him to retrieve Yondu's fin or when Rocket is explaining to him how to plant the bomb on Ego's brain. I'm glad they didn't drag the Baby Groot thing out, though. He was great for one film, but if he had continued into "Infinity War," "Endgame," and "Vol. 3?" Overkill.

Kurt Russell brings a Snake Plissken in space but make it dad vibe to the role of Ego. Mr. Goldie Hawn is the perfect person for this role. You buy that he and Chris Pratt could be related. He radiates charm. You watch that opening scene where he's riding down the interstate with Meredith, wind whipping that Farrah hair while "Brandy" by Looking Glass plays and you get it. Sidebar, they de-aged Russell using make up not visual effects and it's great. Russell brings needed gravitas to the role. A sentient planet reciting the words to "Brandy" could be super cheesy but Russell sells it.

Guarding the galaxy

Pom Klementieff is perfect as Mantis. She brought this wonderful wide eyed wonder and earnestness to the role that is adorable. She and Dave Bautista play perfectly off of each other. Every time she is onscreen, you can't take your eyes off her. 

The theme of the film is family, both chosen and blood and the movie really bangs you over the head with it and it works for the most part, especially in the cases of Yondu and Peter and Gamora and Nebula. Yondu was fine in the first film, but I was "meh" about him overall. The sequel changes that. Learning more about Yondu's backstory, his expulsion from the Ravagers for kidnapping Ego's children, finding out he kept Peter to stop Ego from killing him. It's all great stuff that makes the moment when Yondu sacrifices himself to save Peter hit that much harder. Basically from the moment that Yondu says "He may have been your father, but he wasn't your daddy" to the moment that the Ravagers show up to send him off, I'm bawling. And if you're not, then you don't have a soul.

Nebula and Gamora are a bit more straightforward but the film humanizes Nebula a lot more than the first film. Hearing how Thanos would pull out her eye or arm or brain every time she lost to Gamora is sickening and you sympathize with her. Her reconciliation with Gamora doesn't feel forced and you are rooting for their fresh start.

If there is one place the theme of family falls a bit short, it's with the Guardians themselves. This bickering, splitting, getting back and together, realizing they do care for each other. It feels like a retread of the first film, hitting the exact same beats and that doesn't work where conflict is concerned.

The film continues to use its soundtrack in the best possible way. Using pop songs to soundtrack fights is kind of cloying now, but it wasn't when GotG and Vol 2 premiered and they do it right. From the opening scene with "Mr. Blue Sky" to Yondu's arrow whistling through the air to "Come a Little Bit Closer" to the final Ego/Quill smackdown to "The Chain." It all works.

"Vol. 2" does it's end credits scenes in a way I wish more MCU films would. There is Stakar getting the band back together aka the original Guardians which include Michelle Yeoh and the voice of Miley Cyrus. Let's hope we get more of them in Vol. 3. Ayesha planning her revenge on the Guardians with a cocoon containing Adam Warlock. A fun tease of Quill trying to parent teenage Groot. And it all ends with Stan Lee's continued cameo with the Watchers.

How do you guys feel about Vol. 2? Is it your favorite? Least favorite? Let me know in the comments.

Next up, the Web Slinger get his first MCU solo film.