By Francisco Portillo
James Gunn creates another magical experience with the wildly entertaining “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” Using the best elements from the first film and expanding on them is what makes this movie such a fun and emotional experience for fans of the rag-tag group.
The sequel takes place months after the events of the first film and the lovable team of misfits have become famous across the galaxy.
Taking advantage of their newfound fame, the team spends its time as guns-for-hire. The opening dance number is even more charming than the first.
While preparing to fight the giant purple creature shown in the trailers, the adorable Baby Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel, plays Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky” on speakers he plugged into a stereo.
While the team is struggling to defeat the giant creature that is out of focus in the background, Baby Groot takes center stage and dances his way into the hearts of the audience in a scene that mirrors Peter Quill’s introduction in the first movie.
With the mystery of Quill’s parentage revealed early in the trailers, Gunn wastes no time introducing the audience to his father Ego, played by the always amazing Kurt Russell.
Along with the introduction of Ego, is the first appearance for Mantis, played by Pom Kementieff. Mantis, whose powers include feeling other’s emotions on touch, is a welcomed addition to the team.
Some of the movie’s funniest scenes play off of the interaction between Mantis and Drax the Destroyer. Drax being the funniest character in the movie. With this sequel, Gunn promotes secondary characters by giving them much more depth. Michael Rooker’s character Yondu is a product of this, as the character really shines in this movie.
Primarily known by fans as a badass killer, the character’s arc will have them crying their eyes out. Karen Gillan’s Nebula is another character who undergoes a major transformation.
The relationship between her and Gamora, played by Zoe Saldana, is another character relationship that beautifully plays on the movie’s theme of family.
With a stellar ensemble, the film contains a bunch of awesome cameos. Sylvester Stallone joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Stakar Ogord, a longtime member of the Ravagers and rival of Yondu.
Stan Lee’s cameo in this film is his greatest to date, with the appearance of a long-awaited Marvel character. A minor quibble about the film is the inability to match up to the magical soundtrack of the first film, which became a number-one selling album.
Overall, the movie is a fun ride and has characters that the audience with will certainly fall in love with again. The movie will end leaving fans crying their eyes out.
Fortunately, for the audience, the experience doesn’t end when the credits roll. Right after a heart-breaking moment, Gunn takes a 180-degree turn into the post credits scenes.
The first one features Sean Gunn’s character Craglin in a hysterical scene with Drax, making sure that fans don’t leave the theater broken hearted. “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2” is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive content.
