Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Directed by James Gunn

Based on the comic book Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning

Screenplay by James Gunn

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Kurt Russell

The Guardians have hired themselves out to help clean up the galaxy. Along the way they encounter a mysterious clue to the parentage of Quill (Pratt). Now they’re hoping to unravel this new mystery while they try to save the galaxy.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 adds yet another chapter in the Marvel cinematic universe. James Gunn (Slither) both directed this one and wrote the screenplay, using material from the comic book series created by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. The cast includes Chris Pratt (Moneyball), Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Beyond), Dave Bautista (Spectre), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), and Vin Diesel (Fast Five). Michael Rooker (Eight Men Out), Karen Gillan (The Big Short), Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight) and a lot of other familiar faces are also featured.

This film is one of the latest comic book movies to hit the big screen. James Gunn wrote the film, bringing back the same sense of humor and adventure that made the first one such a success. The story is straightforward and fun, diving right back into the unique dynamics that exist between the Guardians. The pacing of the story is excellent, allowing the movie to hit the ground running and never really slow. The character development is also very nicely done in this one. The writing helps to give each of the main characters a new level of depth. This helps in building their relationships to one another. The movie also features a couple of fun twists. The biggest issue, if I can call it that, is the predictable nature of the movie. There aren’t any big surprises in this one, which is a bit of a disappointment. Still, this is a fun romp through the galaxy that’s well worth the time.

The acting in this one seems to capture the growing bond between the characters. This only makes sense as the central members of the cast were back in roles they’d played before. This chemistry really helps in making this one fun. Pratt, Saldana, Cooper, Bautista, and Diesel all do nice work bringing the Guardians back to life. The writing gave them a lot of opportunities for comedy, as well as some excellent action. The cast really seemed to have fun throughout this one. While the story might be serious, there’s something great about the lighthearted approach the characters seem to bring. With good performances from Rooker, Gillan, and Russell this one really works well. There isn’t a bad performance in the film and there are a lot of big names that pop up throughout.

This movie looks incredible. The CGI, sets, costuming, and makeup all add nice touched to the visuals. The new worlds explored in this one are unique and fantastic. There are also some great new characters with unique appearances that pop up throughout the film. The camera work and the action sequences all capture the right energy, and the editing keeps this one moving at a fast pace. The sound work also did great things in this one. The music chosen to highlight the movie is fun and even a little sentimental at times. Overall, there isn’t much to complain about from a production standpoint in this one.

This is a great comic book movie for fans of the Marvel cinematic universe. If you liked the first one, this isn’t going to let you down. This might be a predictable story, but that doesn’t hurt the overall experience since it’s executed so nicely. This would even be a good watch for someone who hasn’t seen the first film. There’s a lot to like in this one. I give this one 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 136 Minutes