When the Guardians run foul of beings known as The Sovereign, they are saved by someone known as Ego, who says he is Peter Quill/Star Lord's father...
The first Guardians film was a total surprise from Marvel. It was completely different to anything they'd made before. It was terrific fun. But with the surprise gone, can Vol.2 live up to the expectations of the first?
Well for the most part it does. Returning writer and director James Gunn has come up with a story that continues themes from the original but also going deeper on some of them, in this case family. Bizarrely in that it has a lot in common with the Fast & Furious series! But the family themes here are different. Quill has to deal with his father, revealed to be a living planet. Gamora has to deal with her sister Nebula who wants revenge on her and their father Thanos, Rocket has issues of his own, ones the resonate with Yondu, Drax begins a tentative friendship with Mantis, an orphan raised by Ego. And baby Groot is 'too adorable to kill!'
As a result, while the film has the spectacle and humour you would expect, there is a lot of heart in the film, which comes to the fore especially in the final minutes, which make for a more low-key yet emotional ending.
It helps that Gunn as writer and director keeps his story flowing well, giving the characters time to develop. However, there is a downside in that the overall story to the film itself is more slight than perhaps needed. It doesn't detract from the film however.
The returning cast are terrific as ever. Chris Prat, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker as well as Bradley Cooper voicing Rocket and Vin Diesel as Groot slip back into their roles easily. The new cast members are just as good, with Kurt Russell, having a blast as Ego, Pom Klementieff is good as Mantis and there is a good supporting turn from Elizabeth Debicki and nice little cameo from Sylvester Stallone.
As you would expect the CGI is very well done, the film looks great, the 'Awesome Mix Vol 2 is a terrific collection of songs and the original music from Tyler Bates isn't bad either.
However, there are a couple of problems. It is yet another superhero film where the end resolves around saving the world/galaxy/ I get they need high states to make the ending dramatic and tense, but this plot device is getting a bit tired. There are scenes in the final battle that recall the fight between Zod and Superman in Man Of Steel, although Gunn adds great little touches of humour into these moments.
As a film Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 isn't quite as good as the first. However, it's not a throwaway sequel. The depth added to characters and their actions make up for the slightness of the story. It's still terrific fun though, one of the best Marvel films for a while. With five scenes during and post credits, you have to sit to the very end, though by now you imagine most Marvel fans will know this by now.
Marvel are really on a strong roll now, building to Avenger: Infinity Wars. While this film doesn't add anything into that overall build-up, it does make you look forward to the Guardians showing up during that.
Until then however, we have Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 to keep us going.
Roll on Vol. 3!
Rating - 4/5
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