Guardians of the Galaxy. Vol 2, (Dir James Gunn, 2h, 16m)

There was a time, before Marvel Cinematic Universe became an indelible seal of quality, before "Awesome Mix No.1" became the second highest selling soundtrack of 2014, and rejuvenated the careers of many of the bands whose music was featured, as well as sparking a short and bizarre resurgence of tape and the Walkman,  before I/We Are Groot became another iconic geek catchphrase to festoon t-shirts, bags, badges, before we'd even heard of Star Lord, Rocket the Racoon, Groot, Drax (the Destroyer) and Gamora...when people viewed Guardians of the Galaxy as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first true mis-step. Boy, were we wrong. But, with the element of surprise a key part of GOTG's success, how do you make a sequel without it? The answer, surprisingly, is to do everything else the original did, but a little better, the result of which is, in my opinion, a film that's every bit as good as the first instalment (if, not, whisper it, a little bit more awesome).

Speaking of awesome, let's start in what for most films, would be the "technical/effects/soundtrack" section that comes at the end of the review. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 is not most films, and Awesome Mix No.2 is not most soundtracks. As with the first film, the soundtrack serves its film excellently, with Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr Blue Sky", and the fight sequence that accompanies it one of the most perfect and, indeed, in-character opening sequences of an MCU film, whilst the lyrics to the less well known "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) by American rock also-rans, Looking Glass playing an important part in the plot of the film. Not since Mica Levi's score to Jackie has a soundtrack felt more like an additional character-apposite, given the significance of the "mix tape" that Peter Quill and co listen to throughout the film. 

Just as Vol.1 brought Blue Swede's "Hooked on a Feeling" back to a new generation, there are pieces of music that, for a new generation, will now be indelibly linked to its usage in GOTG2; the scenes involving both Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" (and not to give anything away, never have a set of lyrics worked better to a sequence in an action movie), and Cat Stevens' "Father and Son". The sequence which accompanies the latter is, in my opinion, not only the emotional centre of the film, not only one of the best sequences of either Vol 1 or Vol.2 of GOTG, but one of the single best sequences of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date, both in its pathos and its visual impact, but also just in terms of what it represents. 

Speaking of fathers and sons, the theme of family underpins the majority of the film-with the Guardians bickering and arguing, (if possible more than before), Peter is confronted by a man who claims to be his father (played by action movie stalwart, Kurt Russell), whilst Gamora is reunited with treacherous and bitter sister Nebula. Whilst the first film cements the relationship between the five Guardians via their trial-by-fire against Ronan, it's not really till GOTG 2 that warts and all, they begin to feel like a cohesive group, a family-the script when the five are simply, to pardon the expression, shooting the shit, with each other, either aboard ship, or on a mission together, is superbly written and emphasises the bond between them; although, if I have one critique, the film needs perhaps a few more down-moments, where our heroes are simply sitting around talking to each other.

Both of the familial relations (between Quill and his potential father, and Nebula and Gamora), which act as the emotional focus of the film, seem to contrast the often chaotic lifestyle of Quill and the sisters with normality and even happiness-as a tearful, and clearly upset Nebula tells her sister at one point, that she wanted a sister, rather than an adversary to fight against, whilst Quill's father, Ego, seems determined to make up for the decades he has been absent-the film is keen to contrast the almost kindly Ego and the gruff and harsh Yondu, yet it is Quill's choice as to who he really regards as his father figure that proves to be the major emotional centre of the film. 

In short, GOTG 2 is, in many respects, a retread, at least thematically, of the same material as the first film-Quill still makes enjoyably audience-friendly, cinematically literate jokes, culminating in both the best film reference and the best videogame reference in films in years, Groot, now merely a sproutling, is once again a great, essentially silent character, his smaller size and childlike nature leading to some great comedic payoffs, whilst Rocket's snarking and sharp tongue, especially in scenes with his defacto captain, Quill, are tempered with his growing friendship with kindred spirit Yondu, whilst Drax and Gamora act as straight-men to this trio-the major addition to the quintet,
the empath Mantis, is also a great dramatic introduction, acting both as a wide-eyed innocent and as an insight into the inner workings of the Guardians' minds.

The film is as visually arresting, as whipcrack funny, as intelligent, and yet knowing as the original-yet, since the film can get down to business quicker, reintroducing its heroes in the aforementioned opening credits, complete with dancing Groot, and with the leaner, meaner, and one could even suggest darker tone of the film, it does what the original does better, faster, and more awesom...er? (Awesomer...awesome...more awesome?)

The visual spectacle of the worlds that the Guardians visit call to mind the great and the goods of sci-fi art, from the Roger Dean-esque planet Ego inhabits, with floating islands and intricate interior, to the Mobieus-styled planet of the gold Sovereign people, amping up from the somewhat plain worlds of the original, whilst cameos, from Sylvester Stallone and David Hassellhoff (no, seriously) to the ubiquitous Stan Lee cameo (that seems to confirm a long-held fan theory), make this feel like a bigger, more inhabited galaxy than the first film.

Most of all, however, this film develops the Guardians as people-Quill is argumentative, but intelligent and a good leader, Drax may be the group's muscle but he increasingly becomes its conscience, and its heart, Gamora's feeling (or unspoken feelings?) both for her sister and Quill begin to show her as someone who's moved on from being her father (the unseeen Thanos)'s puppet, Rocket is forced to open up, and admit that under the snide exterior is someone who desperately wants to be part of a family, and Groot is...well, he is Groot-ever fun, ever trisylabic, but more vulnerable than the first film, and almost painfully cute.

If Guardians of the Galaxy was Marvel's answer to space westerns like Star Wars, then Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 2. is Empire Strikes Back-the stakes are higher, the visuals more striking, the story a little darker, saving the galaxy more personal. Heck, even the tunes are better. Obviously.

Rating: Highly Recommended.