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COLINS FILM CLUB REVIEW – Cinema

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Vol 2

Back when the very first Guardians film was launched a couple of years ago, Marvel Studio`s was seen to be taking a risk on what appeared to be one of their craziest and boldest films to date at the time. Then the stellar box office receipts started to pour in as the marvellous mix of 70`s music, great characters and a blistering storyline made this a must-see movie in the Marvel line-up. It was a hit the likes of which most studios could only dream of... but did it have lasting appeal? Well move forward to present day and we again meet up with the lovable gang of misfits with all the main characters returning in yet another gorgeous looking sci-fi film that looks like it shouldnt work at and yet, just like its predecessor – does!

At some unspecified date in time within the Marvel Universe, we catch up with the Guardians having been hired by a race called The Sovereigns to dispatch a creature which has been stealing valuable and precious energy batteries, However although successful, things turn sour for the team after Rocket steals some of these batteries, incurring the wrath of the Sovereign. They give chase and nearly destroy our heroes if it wasnt for the intervention of a single old man on a strange flying egg-shaped ship, whole destroys the Sovereign fleet and saves the Guardians. When they meet up, this old man introduces himself as Ego, and tells Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) that he is indeed his long lost Father. Although things seem to go well at first, Peter and the others soon find out that Ego isnt telling them everything and that he has another agenda which threatens to destroy the entire Galaxy.

Bringing the Guardians back for a second film was always going to be pretty much a no-brainer given the cash the original film generated, but to do a second film and bring in something fresh to the mix whilst still retaining the feel and scope of the first one was a knife edge that many films stumble on. And while Vol 2 doesnt bring too much new to the table, what it does do is expand upon the characters and gives us a story which introduces one crucial element, Peter`s parentage and of course this means his Father, played with gusto by Kurt Russell. Of the original cast we see another great turn by Pratt as Quill, aka – StarLord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora has a meatier role too as she is tasked with bringing her estranged sister Nebula back into the fold, Dave Bautista`s Drax gets the best improvements to his character and some of the funniest lines too, he is a much better and more rounded character in this film. Bradley Cooper voices Rocket again, and his dry and sarcastic humour well suited to the character, and Vin Diesel also is back as Groot, the sentient tree – although due to events in the first film, the Groot we see here is a mere sapling of a child, and cute as hell – just wait for the inevitable plush toy version out to buy soon no doubt. Michael Rooker is back as Yondu the Ravenger who ends up being turned on by his crew. Notable additions include Sylvester Stallone and the by now required Stan Lee cameo by the man himself.

Also returning is James Gunn as Director. He holds the whole together at a steady pace, ably piecing together the various set pieces whilst adding all the new bits. He feels like he is directing his pride and joy and after the success of the first film one could forgive him a little bit of handling with kid gloves, and yet Gunn isnt afraid to mess with the formula a little bit, as can be seen by bringing Nebula into the fold and having Yondu join the gang for the big finale. Gunn sticks to the age old saying of if it aint broke then dont fix it and for this sequel, he sticks quite well to this too.

So as sequels go, Vol 2 is very much a by-the-numbers film – it does nothing wrong in this but neither does it go leaps and bounds above and beyond to mark it out as being really different. It could be look upon as being very disappointing from this respect, but it isnt – the film retains a lot of the charm and magic from the first film and this is all due to a very talented cast who are comfortable within their defined roles which is very evident, they all hold your attention either as real or CGI creations and they endear themselves to the audience, which is the whole reason why both films work so well.

Faults? Well, its not perfect – Ego`s masterplan loses focus as a global and universal event unfolding once the end battle becomes one to simply wipe him out, and it seems a tad contrived to find that the only compatible mate for Ego in the whole universe just happens to be from Earth given the sheer numbers of mates Ego has attempted to mate with before meeting Peter`s Mother. And perhaps Ego as the villain of the piece doesnt quite gel either, but this is a bit of a personal preference here. The Sovereign are a considerably weak affair even though they should have greater strength in numbers, they are all too easily overpowered or destroyed, but to their credit they do seem to be able to hop across the galaxy faster that Rocket can as they arrive at Ego`s Planet seemingly in one jump as opposed to Rocket`s 700 jumps!!

Gunn has taken sitting in your seat whilst the end credits roll to a new extreme, for in the end credits of Vol 2 we have not one, not two but FIVE cut scenes, some of which play for a bit of fun, others do indeed further the plot threads for the MCU and its forthcoming films like Thor Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War. Hints at things yet to come and possibly further beyond too...

I enjoyed Vol 2 immensely – it has just the right feel about it that a blockbuster should have, and yes it doesnt bring a lot thats new with it but to be honest I think that Gunn did a great job of resisting the temptation to flood the narrative and the plot with overloaded content and has kept control of something that could have spiralled out of control and become unfocused and messy. This is no Rogue One and its good to see Marvel control its licences. Once you get too generic or feel that everything needs to change to up the ante, then often you have to ask why was it needed? And if you walk out of the cinema after a film asking yourself this then clearly the Director, Writer and Producers have all lot their way somewhere in the film`s process. Not here with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2... we have a competent film which stands up really well not just as a sequel but also as a standalone film for those who hadnt seen the first one, although to be honest it would be doubtful anyone miss the first one.

Amiable, enjoyable and just damn good fun!! Its good to see the gang saving the Galaxy once again and if they have to up their fee for the third instalment for saving the galaxy twice, then I would happily pay up for the next one...!!

COLINS FILM CLUB RATING

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