Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 English Movie
A surprisingly darker and more emotional sequel to Marvel's (arguably) most unapologetic feature film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 is flawed yet compelling in its own way.
James Gunn's latest film about the bunch of misfits starts with a bang, taking us straight into the kind of action they are known for- cheeky, luminous and self-aware. Then the opening credits roll with the much marketed Baby Groot shaking a leg while the others get their backs kicked as the rebellious comical tone is quickly re-established. This dream opening continues in fine fettle till the first half as the Guardians have a dig at each other whenever possible. And the audience realizes that everything has been amped up to eleven; Drax(Dave Bautista) is dumber and funnier, Starlord(Chris Pratt) is more unlikable, Rocket(Bradley Cooper) is more crass, Gamora(Zoe Saldana) is more hostile and Groot(Vin Diesel) is more adorable than last time.
It is when new characters like Ego, Mantis and Stakar arrive that the film's tonality alters. Gunn's additional responsibility to connect Marvel's galactic universe to the Infinity War and in shorter sight, the otherworldly qualities of Thor and Doctor Strange, does not mar its own independence. What hurts it is the path it chooses to get there, through the kind of villains, henchmen and plot cliches Marvel is notorious for since its so-called renaissance.
In spite of its awkwardness and interstellar coolness, Vol.2 has a story that comes down to an idea virtually patented by the Fast and Furious franchise- family. This idea can be too melodramatic and unfit for the Guardians' supposed attitude if not handled well. This film enters a very dangerous zone which is only inches away from blowing things away. Thankfully, that does not happen because it shifts gears before it is too late and averts a crash-landing.
Kurt Russel's Ego has ambition and motivation as dubious as his name. His character doesn't make the viewers' anticipation count and ends up ranking among the worst written characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hopefully, the study will have a better explanation for the way they tackled the characters during the Guardians' future assignments. But, thanks to him, the film fleshes out the character of Starlord and also completes his back-story, although the price it paid for it is anyone's guess. Ironically, the subplot of the sibling rivalry between Gamora and Nebula(Karen Gillan) packs a bigger punch than the aforesaid central storyline.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 uses state-of-the-art technology to put an end to Marvel's monotonous colour template. This canvas is a riot of colours and shapes that accentuate its dream-like quality. One would have expected as much tenacity to the narrative that unfolds, which is not the case. But like every other MCU entrant, it is worth the price of admission as a solid intergalactic action-comedy.
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