Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 follows the titular group as a job goes sideways and leads to each of the characters grappling with their past so they can move forward together. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a sequel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You need to see Guardians of the Galaxy before seeing the sequel, but if you are otherwise unfamiliar with the other films, you will still understand and enjoy this film though you should probably question your life choices.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is not as focused as its predecessor because the first installment primarily follows Peter Quill while weaving other characters into his story, but the sequel’s story reflects the group’s dynamic. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 branches off to delve into each character’s personal journey then comes together to form a stronger, psychologically healthier group. I really wish that the Avengers would take notes since their cohesiveness is always questionable and getting tiresome. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 may be the backbone of the ultimate denouement of the Marvel Cinematic Universe-the fight against Thanos’ quest to acquire all the Infinity Stones and rule over the galaxy.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is really a film about dealing with past trauma, mostly child abuse, so you can avoid repeating the pattern of abuse, becoming an abuser and form healthy relationships instead of hurting the ones that you love. If you like mainstream and artsy fartsy films, I would suggest pairing it with Yelling to the Sky, particularly the sororal dynamic. Each character, except for Groot and Drax, who must move on from the loss of his family—a different type of trauma, reaches a turning point when they have to reject the abusive legacy of a narcissistic parent who does not nurture, but uses their children.
Peter Quill’s storyline was the weakest. When he started playing catch, it almost ruined the entire movie for me. Seriously, he is a grown ass man. Doesn’t he want something else from that relationship or do adult men really resonate with that moment? I hated it. It felt as anti-climactic as Contact and Interstellar. I understand that there is a theory that abuse freezes the victim during the time when the victim experiences the abuse, but this moment was too immature for me.
I also did not think there was any suspense in Quill’s storyline once we meet Kurt Russell’s character. The name of the character is a dead giveaway as to where the two will end up and a bit too obvious for my taste-like Ariadne in Inception. One fight scene between the two was uncomfortably on the threshold of entering Green Lantern territory, but managed not to step over it. I will give points to James Gunn, the writer and director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, for having more cajones than Ridley Scott in exploring the awkward Venn diagram between these two and Yahweh. Two words: Space Jesus meets Species. I don’t want fundamentalist Christians to picket Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 so I won’t elaborate, but as a Christian, I mildly clutched my pearls when I knew where the story was going. I appreciated him exploring the horrifying aspects of a story that most people don’t think about. If you don’t want to go there, then just think gods, but I do think that he went there no matter what Gunn says.
Yondu’s storyline is probably the most surprising and satisfying. His storyline is reminiscent of the best part of Joss Whedon’s Firefly and Serenity. It also leads us to an entirely interesting new group of people, which includes Michelle Yeoh (who apparently will also be in Star Trek: Discovery-SQUEE!!!!) and Michael Rosenbaum, whom I did not recognize, but LOVE!
If I am completely honest, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 does not have to work too hard for me to enjoy it. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 could just consist of Rocket (my favorite Bradley Cooper performance) and Groot, and I would be happy, but it goes the extra mile to fully utilize an amazing ensemble cast, including the supporting actors, and make them feel like fully formed, complex individuals. Guardians of the Galaxy is the most mature member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
(Side note: Zoe Saldana does a great job. She is a solid, engaging actor and a veteran of the sci fi genre, but I need her to stop doing interviews because if she were not in major franchises, I would completely boycott her faux enlightened ass. Her inadvertent foray into a minstrel act, her statements that reveal her clueless oppression Olympics beliefs on race and gender and her rallying cry to support the biggest bully on the planet in some misguided call to unify behind Thanos makes her more problematic than Anthony “make daddy a sandwich” Mackie. They both need to go to Chris Pratt for tutoring on how to not alienate your fan base, and even if you did not, but get uncomfortably close, backtrack like Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk. We want to give you money so save your bon mots for evenings with your friends and family. You are not as profound as you think you are. Go talk to Toni Morrison or bell hooks or something just leave the rest of us out of your personal journey.)