I can think of no better way to kick off the summer movie-going season than with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, a film that for my money serves up an even richer helping of audience-pleasing glee than the original film. I just loved this movie. I'm going try like hell to stay spoiler-free, because Guardians Vol. 2 is one of those films that is so jam-packed with surprises that part of the joy is in discovering them unexpectedly, so I'd urge you to make haste and see it ASAP, before the shelf life of the various delights and cameos become common knowledge. I will definitely be seeing this in the theater again as soon as possible.
A huge piece of Guardians 2 is Peter Quill's (Chris Pratt) discovery of his father - a being played by none other than Kurt Russell, who just frickin' shines here. I've been a Russell fan my whole life, and having him be this kind of character in the Marvel Universe, well - it kind of feels like Christmas. The way we first get introduced to Russell via flashback...it's extraordinary. I don't want to give it away, but my jaw was on the floor and I could not stop smiling. Clearly anything is now possible.
Peter Quill's got a lot to deal with - the pull of the past and the needs of the present, and Chris Pratt does a splendid job here. The core Guardians dynamic is better than ever, with Rocket, (Bradley Cooper) Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) all getting ample opportunities to explore their characters. Gamora really gets some fantastic moments, as the sibling rivalry between her and Nebula (Karen Gillan) really takes off here, including a spectacular sequence that tips its hat to North by Northwest, as well as perhaps the most awesome firearm ever seen in movies.
There's a lot of joy to be found in Guardians' new characters, including Elizabeth Debicki as golden-hued Ayesha - she projects the kind of eerie power that reminds you of Cate Blanchett or Tilda Swinton. She's someone to watch. Likewise Mantis (Pom Klementieff) is terrific as an empathic fellow traveler who's bound to become a fan favorite. Her scenes with Drax are just a delight. But in this teeming cadre of cool, if anyone's going to write their name in the history books it's Michael Rooker. Rooker has always had that incredible charisma, the likes of which only actors like Lee Van Cleef or Christopher Walken can muster - and Rooker bloody rules this movie, he's barely containable, and in a lot of ways the soul of the movie.
Harper
Lee famously said, "You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your
family..." and that idea of finding who you're a part of and deciding who matters to
you is what Guardians 2 is all about. The
Guardians are all misfits. And misfits have a hard time fitting in. And I
suspect what's going to make this film strike a chord with audiences and do
enormous business is tapping into that need for belonging that is one of the
most powerful emotions there is. We don't all come from perfect families, and
if you're lucky, you may get a chance to make your own family out of those who
matter to you the most.
Fair warning, I was completely unprepared for how emotional an experience Guardians Vol. 2 was - though in hindsight, after the opening scene of the first one, I should have never forgotten James Gunn's ability to move you to tears. And I freely admit I cried like crazy in this movie. I won't say when, or why, but you're gonna be moved. It's also got the best use of a Cat Stevens song in any move ever - period, topping even Harold and Maude.
We're living in a pretty crazy, often scary age, and finding a place where you fit in can sometimes feel impossible. Thank you James Gunn for weaving a ridiculously entertaining space yarn that lets us all laugh like maniacs and actually reflect a bit on what it feels like to be cared for and to care back.
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