Blowing most sequels out of the water with the sheer quantity of ideas at play, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 further defies sequelitis by adding even more to the main character’s back story. It’s like hanging out with friends and finding out that the more you know, the more you like them.
The visuals and set design are also ramped up to a lollie shop level of bright colours and eye candy. The underlining story is rather thin this time but does divulge further information on Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and his parents and how the animosity between sisters Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) became so intense. This lack of deep story story telling does little to distract from the fun as the script is rife with humour and running gags. This is especially true with the writing for the now baby Groot.
The real appeal in this franchise and one that is sadly lacking in a lot of the comic book adaptations is how well the charm of the characters is translated from the page to the screen. It’s a fine line between charming and saccharine and this series succeeds masterly in the former while staying clear of the latter.
The action is nonstop and the final big duke-a-roo runs a bit long but this is tempered by an inviting sense of family and friendship. When the final titles roll (and you catch all the crazy credit returns) and the film comes to a end, you are left with the wish that the wait for the next instalment will be short.
Rob Hudson
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