MOVIE: Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2

IT’S a slight understatement to say that the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie was a hit. 

Taking in almost a billion dollars in revenue, it guaranteed a series of sequels would follow. But is the new instalment any good?

Volume 2 continues the adventures of the team of guardians as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. 

Forced to fight to keep their newfound family together, they also must unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage, fending off baddies at every turn. 

Much more in terms of plot there really isn’t, but this is one film that doesn’t rely too heavily on story, nor does it need to. 

The team is led again by the capable and charming Chris Pratt, with the fearsome Zoe Saldana at his side. Voices are added by Bradley Cooper, who plays the wise cracking raccoon, ‘Rocket’, and by Vin Diesel as ‘Groot’, the tiny living tree whose only words are: “I am Groot”. Special cameo appearances feature a couple of Hollywood’s best known actors, one of whom claims to be Quill’s father, and of course Stan Lee, the creator of these and many other Marvel comic characters, who turns up for his now customary line or two.

This film/series is in many ways unique. First of all, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and uses humour very well in a clever send up of itself and the sometimes lazy Hollywood blockbusters. 

It also treats action sequences in a refreshingly different fashion, as witnessed from the very outset in the opening fight scene which we see from Groot’s perspective, as he casually goes about his business, chaos happening all around him. 

But most of all, this movie relies on music, something that is at the heart of everything it does, and something which is used to great effect, so much so that you leave wondering why other filmmakers don’t do the same thing. 

Overall, this is a really entertaining, witty, and fun film that we score an almost astronomical 4 out of 5 stars.  

Other Releases: The Promise – 2.5 Stars

Paul O’Rourke