Can lightning strike twice? Adam Parker gives his spoiler-free review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 and finds the good, the bad, and the Kurt Russell.
By Adam Parker // Back in 2014 Marvel released the trailer for the Guardians of the Galaxy. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was flying high following the Phase Two films Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In my opinion the Guardians trailer was awful. My expectations were as low as they could be. Then I watched the film and loved it! The wit, characterization and pace were all pitch perfect. I fell in love with a raccoon, a talking tree, a half human and a kick-ass soundtrack and so did the rest of the cinema going world. Jump forward three years and I am sitting in a cinema at 2:30 am on the morning of the 27th of April 2017. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 has just finished and my response is “that was great…but.” Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 is the best film in Marvel Cinematic Universe. James Gunn managed to take all the parts of a comic book film and nail every single one.
Throughout Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 it feels like all the things that worked so well in the first film are trying to be bettered. Surely if everything is improved in some way then Vol 2 will surpass the brilliance of Vol. 1? Watching Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is a great experience, but overall the film is not the superior to the original. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is not even Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1.5. It is much more like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 0.9
Hooked on a Feeling vs. Mr Blue Sky
Vol.1 had a heart from the opening scene to the finale. Vol.2 tried to catch the lightening in the bottle again with limited success. The core team of the Guardians have the same relationships they did before, acidic banter and love beneath a surface of hard skin. The humor also comes thick and fast with Drax the main focus of all the lines that erupted the cinema into laughter. Drax does really steal any scenes he is in. The comedy is not as effortless as in Vol.1, it feels more like it has been done by the book.
An example in point is Groot. In Vol.1 Groot stands out literally head and shoulders above the rest as a lovable delight. Whereas ‘I am Groot’ could have been a nail repeatedly knocked home it became emotion packed and witty. The line was played at just the right level along with the CG characterization to make Groot a lovable character. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 takes it one step further by making baby Groot a wide eyed cute stick of wood and it works. Groot is brilliant; he steals many scenes and draws many laughs, but in trying to recapture the marvel of the first film they have played it by the numbers to ramp up what worked about Groot from Vol.1 and in doing so have ended with less. This time Gunn knew what he had and tried to play on it.
Where Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 really soars
Where Vol 2 shines is the development of the characters Nebula and Yondu. In Vol.1 Nebula is very much a blunt instrument and her character is developed very little beyond being a daughter of Thanos and Gamora’s sister. In the sequel her story and drive is developed much more. There are scenes where the audience connects and empathizes with Nebula. Karen Gillan gives a great performance from behind full make up that really delivers the emotion in each scene. Gamora’s story in Vol.2 is developed mainly through her interactions with her sister this gives insight to both of their life lives Thanos before the first film. With one eye on the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe these are all nuggets of Thanos information preparing us for Avengers: Infinity War.
The development of Yondu is much more significant. As with Nebula’s characterization in Vol.1, Yondu was painted with a broad brush. In Vol 2, the root of Yondu is the same but like all good character development, there is some delicate peeling back of layers. More is revealed about Yondu his drive, his life with Peter Quill following his abduction from Earth, and also how each of them views the other.
Vol.1 flew when it wore its heart on its sleeve, this is also the case with Vol 2 and most significantly in some of the interactions between Rocket and Yondu. In those moments the story development felt effortless rather than forced to fit, or surpass a mould. Michael Rooker does wonders in these scenes playing against a CG character.
Wham Bang Shang A-Lang
Where Vol 2 also shines is with its visuals. The art direction and special effects are truly stunning. The opening scenes sees the team engaging with a mission. These are the main parts show in the teaser and main trailer for the film. During the ensuing madness baby Groot takes to the for ground in an almost James Bond-esque opening. The background shots are stunning, and the level of detail and love runs throughout the film.
Space scenes are awash with stunning visuals and effects that to the eyes melt like good chocolate on the palette. This is also the case in the main location of the film on the planet Ego. The planet’s surface, and its flora and fauna, are wonderful. Ego as a planet feels natural, not alien, that is testament to the skill of the creative team. This continues beneath the surface of Ego, where the living planet truly does feel alive.
The animation of Rocket, in particular, is second to none for a CG character. There are moments when you spot clumps of hair doing things that are completely independent of the rest of his fur. The slow-motion sections of him in full action with the air gently catching each individual hair show the talents of the teams behind his animation. I have not seen a fully realized CG character as good as Rocket in any film. Rocket was impressive in Vol.1–the animation in the sequel is beyond expectations.
Friends and Family
The big reveal of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 full trailer was Kurt Russell as Peter Quill’s father Ego, and this is where the heart falls away from the film. Kurt Russell’s performance is very good in the role. However, the character Ego is paper thin and predictable. The ideas are good, but the story lacks depth, and the relationship development of Peter and Ego is what the film hangs on. There is a single moment where it truly works well, and this is the key turning point that begins the third act of the film. Unfortunately, the painting-by-numbers writing prior to this does not give the moment the pay off it really deserves.
The challenge of an ensemble piece like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is to provide every character with a valuable story, and this is the only area where the story suffered. It would have been better to reduce one of the other subplots to allow for some better development of the Peter/Ego relationship, as this is the main focus of the threat in the film.
Father and son
The final act of the film is where Vol.2 struggles most. The art design becomes strange and at times woeful. In some scenes between Ego and Peter the CG felt jarring and was very noticeable. The effects have tried to push the boundaries of what can be done and I applaud James Gunn for trying to do this but for me this didn’t quite work.
The visual style of Ego the living planet is reminiscent of Jack Kirby’s original work, and is true to the characters portrayal in the comics. Jack Kirby’s visuals are stunning and worked very well in a static panel-based medium, but have not translated well to film. Ego may have been more effective as a character if the production had boldly stepped a little further away from the source material.
There were times when the film distinctly reminded me of Jobe Smith from the 1992 film Lawnmower Man. I have not seen visuals delivered in the same way since that film. Where as Lawnmower Man seemed out dated at it release Vol.2 does present the effects beautifully. James Gunn takes ever opportunity to hit home that Ego is a living planet in the third act, however the tropes used are very predictable. Being slightly bolder and less true to the source material would have resulted in a less jarring viewing experience.
Come a little bit closer
Is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 a good film? Yes it is. I have already pre-ordered the Blu Ray. I cannot encourage people enough to go and see it for its stunning visuals (especially the animation of Rocket and Groot), Drax’s one liners, the Nebula/Gamora relationship and Yondu alone. The ticket price is worth it if you stand up and leave when Mr. Blue Sky finishes.
Is it the better of its predecessor Vol. 1? not at all. It cannot hold a light to the original. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 has all the same pieces, but James Gunn uses them in a way that feels like he knew what toys he had and tried to dial every single element up a notch, which resulted in a lesser whole. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is fun and pretty, but lacks the heart and lightning in a bottle surprise of Vol. 1.