By: Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor
Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” was a huge success in 2014. Featuring a cast of obscure characters that fans instantly fell in love with, “Guardians” expanded the Marvel Universe and laid the groundwork for many films to come. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a fun film, like the original, but set on a much smaller scale.
At the film’s start, the team is established and stronger than ever before. Where the first film had to set up a team dynamic, this film just enforces it. The focus is put on strengthening the bonds between the characters, rather than simply making them tolerate each other.
The movie has an expectation that viewers have already seen the original, allowing for them to jump straight into the action. There’s no hand holding as the movie picks up speed, but the character interactions and some jokes would have had very little effect without having seen the original.
That said, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” fails to match the original’s huge scale. The stakes are lower, the villains are weaker and there’s nothing that feels too risky in the film. The original movie expanded the Marvel Universe so much, with connections to other films and diverse locations, that the smaller scale in “Vol. 2” feels off-putting and takes away from the movie.
Marvel is criticized for having overpowered heroes and forgettable villains, but Marvel toys with this concept in new and exciting ways in this film. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” feels very different from other Marvel movies throughout based on its setup and dynamics.
The character interactions are definitely the highlight of the movie. The Guardians are each so unique and their actors have found their groove in such a way that the characters are both hilarious and sympathetic throughout. The newcomers, Yondu, Mantis and Nebula, offer even further depth and more laughs to the team.
Interactions between Starlord and Rocket Raccoon, as well as those between Drax and Mantis, stand out the most in the film. These characters were great foils of each other and added to the overall quality.
Just like the original, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a fun and hilarious film. Even on a much smaller scale, the sequel offers some fantastic moments of character interaction and humor. It’s not the best or most memorable Marvel film, but that doesn’t stop it from being some great fun.
Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu
