When you have something good going following a successful blend of action, story, and one awesome soundtrack, it's always best to follow up with a sequel that channels those same energies and unfolds into a continuation that improves on the first movie's merits. In the case of James Gunn and his second outing with Marvel's interstellar bunch of heroes that are the "Guardians of the Galaxy", he stays true to the spirit of the original movie's success by giving us something that feels all too familiar and not much of a departure from the 2014 Marvel Studios film that takes us to the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here we have a clear example of what a director has plotted well and wants to convey in straightforward linear fashion a group of unlikely allies and the story that pulls them together to save the galaxy from a great threat - and once again it works so beautifully that this is just another reason why Marvel Movies are so beloved and enjoyed by fans worldwide.
Thanks to Walt Disney Studios Philippines, I got the chance to see the film along with other fans, fellow cosplayers, and press on April 20 - a few days ahead of its local release date on April 26th and weeks before it comes out in the US on May 5th. Suffice to say, I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED and Vol. 2 speaks to the hearts of comic book fans, 80's nostalgia, and those who enjoy a good blend of 70's/ 80's music channeled into a space adventure of AWESOME proportions. Now that it's been a few weeks since it opened up in theaters, here's my review for GOTG Vol. 2!
Set relatively a few months after the adventure that united them together in the first place, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is pretty much the thrill ride that answers one of the most elusive mysteries left by the first film - Who is Peter Quill/ Star-Lord's father? That finally gets sorted out as the Celestial being known as "Ego" comes forth after Quill and his "extended family" in the Guardians narrowly avoid getting blown to bits by the alien race called the Sovereign after a double cross incident. When Peter, Gamora, and Drax decide to accompany Ego and his assistant Mantis to Ego's planet for Star-Lord to discover his heritage, Rocket and Baby Groot have to deal with Gamora's sister Nebula and the returning Yondu and the Ravagers. What follows is another galactic adventure where untold secrets are revealed, dark truths are discovered, and another threat that requires the intervention of the most unlikely scoundrels and misfits the galaxy has for saviors... Again.
Once again much like the first time he brought this bunch together for the most unexpectedly AWESOME superhero team film that's now a household name, James Gunn reunites Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel as the Guardians of the Galaxy - reprising their roles as Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Baby Groot respectively. The film also brings back familiar faces like Michael Rooker as Yondu and Karen Gillan as Nebula, while introducing Kurt Russell as Peter Quill's long lost dad Ego and Pom Klementieff as Mantis. This is a great cast that doesn't make short of their acting chops and blends the action, humor, and drama together quite well. I particularly put Drax as my favorite one in the bunch because he serves as the literal "Comedy Relief" with his over the top humor moments. The interactions between Star-Lord and Ego, Gamora and Nebula, and Drax and Mantis in particular also heighten the growth the characters have seen since they first banded together, and Yondu gets more screen time thankfully that's going to excite fans of the character.
Of course you can't have a Guardians film without a stellar soundtrack put together by James Gunn and the folks of Marvel Studios, and Awesome Mix Vol. 2 is another worthy entry that adds the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Silver, Jay and the Americans, and Cat Stevens singing some impressive tunes that will get to your nostalgic ears and fit the scenes accordingly. That plus Tyler Bates impressive score is another reason why the film has synergy and clicks, and while the first movie will remain on the top of the mountain for bringing these pieces together, the sequel does a fine job of continuing the story - which Gunn plans to do a trilogy of now that he's confirmed to return for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3". We'll be seeing these guys again for "Avengers: Infinity War" next year, but now you have this film as another fantastic entry into the growing Marvel Cinematic Universe, with more easter eggs I won't spoil and also Sylvester Stallone added as a living legend Ravager named Stakar who knows Yondu and who original Guardians fans know of. I'll leave it at that.
Bottomline if you haven't seen it yet - GO SEE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2. IT'S A MUST if you liked the first and another fantastic Marvel Studios presentation.
Rating - 5/5
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