Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- May 7, 2017
- 3 min read
Going into the movie theater I had tempered expectations. Over the last few months I had read articles ranging from saying that the new Guardians of the Galaxy would be the greatest action movie of all time, to opinions decrying that the movie set it sights high and fell on its face. The truth normally lies somewhere in the middle when it comes to reviews having such strong disagreements, but in this case I feel that those calling Vol. 2 a total failure are missing the point. In this review I will give my feelings on the movie itself as well as some thoughts on the nature and existence of these "film universe" collections.
First and foremost I loved Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2. I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed some ice cream. The jokes in the movie had the entire theater laughing at many points. The characters showed real growth from where they ended in the first movie and where they are now. Even the monologues that are often out of place in other action movies connected and felt as meaningful to the character reciting them as they did to the rest of the team listening intently. Some of the action can be overwhelming, especially in the beginning and end, but it hits home and the Guardians style that director James Gunn has worked so hard to craft. Timed with the great 70's soundtrack and nonstop quips between the characters even the most overwhelming action sequence holds some redeeming value.
Watching the original Guardians felt like watching Star Wars again for the first time. One of my friends snuck a bottle of vodka into the theater expecting that it would be needed to make the movie a bit more enjoyable yet it ended up remaining closed because the movie had the group of us so engaged in what was happening on screen. Vol. 2 does at times feel a bit worn out, but that is only because the first film was able to set the bar as high as it did. In some ways I enjoyed Vol. 2 more because so much effort was put into making this movie new and fresh while being a purposeful sequel.
It is fair to criticize that the pacing of Vol. 2 at times seems to be driven by a bit too much of coincidence and chance. The results is the final act having stakes that feel out of proportion with the rest of the film. However, this does not take away from the importance of the character development up to that point and can be explained by the fact that this is a sci-fi superhero movie. If you go into this movie expecting earth physics and norms, someone either lied to you, or you fail to grasp what science fiction means.
That brings me to a key thought that comes up in many of my movie reviews. Superhero movies, action movies, and movies in "film universes" seem to either be hated or loved by their audience at disproportionate levels to their actual quality.
Movies and food share many similar traits. When you go to McDonald's you shouldn't expect to eat the finest meal known to humankind. Their food is designed to be agreeable to as many people as possible and appeal to your own comfort. While McDonald's fails at being great food, the company and brand is bound to stick around for many more years. They offer many different types of food, but they are first and foremost known for burgers. More specifically burgers that will taste the same if you order on in San Francisco or New York. McDonald's knows its brand and won't change the recipe unless there is a truly incredible backlash.
In this analogy Marvel movies are In-N-Out burger. When you watch a Marvel movie, you should have an idea of what you have ordered. It will be an action movie based on a comic book that has been spiffed up in hopes that it will make you laugh. A Marvel movie much like and In-N-Out burger is considered to be a step above the rest. Although In-N-Out is a simple burger it has cultivated a cultural place which earns it slightly more respect than its peers. This is in that same way that a Marvel movie, while being grouped with the likes of Batman V Superman and other DC fodder earns just a little bit more praise in what it is able to do.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a great movie... if a sci-fi, comic book, action, buddy movie is what you wish to order. It does not rewrite what it means to be a comic book movie or break ground in what is possible in an action comedy. Vol. 2 simply offers you a quality ride through the world of Marvel with some good laughs along the way.
8.8/10
Also Baby Groot is adorable...
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