The Power of Friendship Strikes Again

Rating: 7/10 (5 May 2017)

This time it's about finding your place in the universe and about family. While this installment in the franchise falls short in terms of story than the first one, it retains the humor which made the first film a success with both the audience and the critics. The best quality of the film is that the humor seems almost unintentional, as it should be. The writers have managed to creep in humor even in the most heated scenes, which breaks the intensity to an extent, but still, the humor works like magic. This one of the very few problems the film experiences. You can't help but laugh, but that distracts you from the story a little. It's rather lighthearted.
It's about family this time. That sounds rather Fast and Furious-y, but it is not cringe-worthy as it is in the Fast and Furious franchise. In this film, it is subtly hidden, it is an 'unspoken thing' Also, they don't say 'family' as much as the Fast and Furious folks do. It is not just about Star Lord's family, as one might expect from what has been shown in the trailer. Every single member of the Guardians of the Galaxy has to come to terms with how they are and where they belong. And it's these characters that keep the film together, it's what they are willing to do find those answers that keeps the film going. The story is just the background, but unfortunately, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cannot be considered to be among the likes of those glorious character-driven films of the past. In his sense, James Gunn reinvents the Marvel Movie once again. This one's not about big explosions and over the top action like all of them are, though there is some action in this film.
We can't truly review Guardians of the Galaxy film, without talking about its music choices. Awesome Mixtape Vol. 2 is not as awesome as Awesome Mixtape Vol. 1, one would find. But that, I think, is an intentional decision made by James Gunn. The first Mixtape was full of Rock, Dance and early Pop music, representing that these young Guardians have not a care in the world except to be awesome, but as time progresses their view of the world, or in this case, the Universe changes. They grow emotions, which they will find, hard to find, and so, they have to express them. They are expressed in this film through the Mixtape Vol. 2, it still has its dancy-ness, but there are also old and slow songs in their which speak of love and relationships. And that is why I think it is intentionally less awesome.
The characters are improved upon what they were in the first film. The only sad part was to find Baby Groot saying 'I'm Groot' in its adorable voice less than I anticipated it to say. Everybody struggles to come to terms with their self, expect Drax, Drax is too cool to be sad for long. Nebula takes Gamora's place to call out the stupidity of the Guardians. Yandu matures in an exceptional way, but he still has that smugness about him. Every character is well executed, which I expected James Gunn wouldn't be able to pull off.
In a line: Marvel has another one in its bag of blockbusters.