2017 Movie Review - Hooked on an Emotional Feeling with "Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2"

SYNOPSIS:

Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.

Please note that the following review may contain some spoilers:

FIRST ACT (THE HOOK):

In an unexpected fashion, Kurt Russell steals the first scene with his cinematically transformed de-aging look, much reminiscent of Michael Douglas' introduction in Ant-Man and Robert Downey Jr.'s digital interpretation in Captain America: Civil War. Once the Guardian of the Galaxy team jumps to the screen, I found myself in angst awaiting the action. But, when James Gunn chooses to shift audience's' attention to the dancing Baby Groot, I was starting to get concerned with the amount of time we could get entertained by their punctuated old jokes. It is rather obvious in a sense that the stakes never feel overwhelmingly high so the temptation to push everything else to the scale of 110% seems to be necessary. I, honestly, was a little bit worn down by its repetitive old quips until they introduced Kurt Russell's Ego. It's his sentimental persona that leaves me curious enough to be invested in learning about the true nature of an immortal, all-knowing lower-case-g god.

SECOND ACT (THE TEAM-UP):

Kudos to James Gunn for making us engaged, captivated and most importantly, compelled with different direction / storyline each member of Guardians is heading. The reunion between Peter Quill and Ego brings the much endearing father-son relationship. The searing, powerful speech by Nebula adds exposition to her jealousy for Gamora. Drax's blunt humour for an emphatic Mantis delivers the positive underrated commentary of a beauty standard. Another focal player, Rocket sets up a premise for character's depth and emotional complexity displayed by a much more prominent Yondu (played by the scene-stealer Michael Rooker). In an eventual resemblance to a street acrobat, James Gunn masterfully juggles the nice blendings of these disparate premises and making sure not to leave anyone behind.

THIRD ACT (THE ENDING):

The last act replicates most of typical superhero's world-saving elements but James Gunn managed to inject emotions and beats without losing focus on his characters. It takes an exceptional vision from one director / writer to inject tearjerking moments with a well-delivered line such as " He might be your father, but he ain't your daddy. " Without any doubt, the finale fireworks scene, in the end, felt beautifully earned with genuine emotional underpinnings. For many years to come, this film will surely add significant values to fatherhood and familial bonds.

THE VERDICT (NO SPOILER):

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 warms up like your old, much-used trustworthy car. It might lack the horsepower you needed at start but the next thing you know, you were in a ride with many passengers and started having heart-to-heart conversation. For the most part, the film does most of the things that its genre is supposed to bring and accomplishes few of them has managed to do - winning audiences' heart with "family" sentimentality. This is a worthy follow-up to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, one of Marvel's top 3 movies in my mind. Here's hoping that the sequel will leave my minor complaint of continual gags and extend on some of the bonds we dearly relate to.