Peter Quill/Star Lord is looking for his dad in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. Will he be glad if he finds him or realize that his fellow Guardians are really his true family? Check our movie review.
By: Lynn Barker
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, after saving the galaxy once before, the gang is hired for various “impossible” missions. Peter Quill/Star Lord (Chris Pratt) is in his element, loving the adventure and still crushing on Gamora (Zoe Saldana) but something is missing. Will he ever find his mysterious alien dad and, if so, will fellow Guardians still feel like family to him?
Guardians plus Nebula arrive on a new planetCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Prequel
Earth, Missouri, 1980, a handsome stranger dates a beautiful Earth girl and plants an alien plant in a remote locale. They are in love; the result? Peter Quill later known as Star Lord.
Star Lord in full battle modeCourtesy of Marvel Studios
New Guardian Assignment
Catching up, now Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper) and Baby Groot (voice of Vin Diesel) are still The Guardians of the Galaxy. They are hired by golden-skinned Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), High Priestess of the Sovereign race, to keep a ginormous, squid-like monster from another dimension from grabbing special “batteries”. As payment they are supposed to get custody of Gamora’s sister Nebula (Karen Gillan), who was caught trying to steal the batteries earlier.
The beautiful but deadly Ayesha (Elizabeth Debecki)Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Naughty Rocket
The mission is accomplished while Baby Groot, oblivious to the battle behind him, dances joyfully to Quill’s music. Wanting more in payment than the return of Nebula, little raccoon-like Rocket steals a few of the batteries which super ticks off Ayesha to the extent that she launches a fleet of drone ships to attack the Guardian’s ship the Milano. The drones are destroyed by a mysterious figure but the damaged Guardian ship crash-lands on a planet.
Yondu confronts RocketCourtesy of Marvel Studios
It’s Daddy!
The savior of the Guardians turns out to be Ego (Kurt Russell), Peter Quill’s dad and he takes Quill, Gamora and Drax to his home world while Rocket and Groot remain behind to repair the ship and guard Nebula. Quill and pals meet Mantis (Pom Klementieff) an empath raised by Ego whom he values for her ability to help him sleep.
Mantis and Ego greet their visitorsCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Empath Mantis knows that Quill has the hots for GamoraCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Enter Yondu
Meanwhile Yondu (Michael Rooker) who took Peter Quill from Earth and raised him to be a thief, has been banned from the big Ravager community by head Ravager Stakar (Sylvester Stallone) for stealing and selling children, Peter included. Ayesha hires Yondu and his crew to recapture the Guardians. They grab Rocket but Yondu doesn’t want to capture and give Quill to Ayesha. His second in command Taserface (Chris Sullivan) leads some of Yondu’s crew in a mutiny takeover with help from Nebula. While imprisoned on Yondu’s ship, Rocket and Yondu form a friendship. Nebula sets off to track and kill sister Gamora blaming her for the torture she suffered as a kid at their dad Thanos’s hand.
Yondu qualifies as Peter Quill's dadCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Taserface wants to take over Yondu's ship and crewCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Freedom and Details
Baby Groot, after many failed attempts, frees Rocket and Yondu and they all escape but before dying, Taserface tips off Ayesha and her new Sovereign fleet of ships. Back on Ego’s planet. he tells his son the deets; he is one of the god-like Celestials, creatures of pure energy, and he also exists in the form of his planet. He can assume many identities and has traveled to many planets eventually meeting and falling for Quill’s mom Meredith. When Meredith died, Ego hired Yondu to grab young Quill and bring him to him but he never turned the boy over and Ego has been looking for Peter ever since. Ego and son Quill share an ability to manipulate the Celestials’ special power. Gamora and Nebula reunite and fight but semi-reconcile when they discover a dark secret hidden in caverns on Ego’s planet. Mantis also knows much more than she reveals.
Rocket, Yondu and Baby Groot are a new teamCourtesy of Marvel Studios
The captured and determined Nebula (Karen Gillan)Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Outcome?
Will Quill and dad Ego ever be true family or does Ego harbor a horrible secret? Will Quill/Star Lord use his newfound Celestial powers? Will Yondu be accepted back into the Ravagers and will Nebula and Gamora ever bond as sisters? Will Rocket, Yondu and Baby Groot rejoin the other Guardians? Will Ayesha and her Sovereign ships attack again?
The Guardians want payment from the SovereignsCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Post Credits
Several scenes involving Yondu’s loyal crewman Kraglin, Ravager leader Stakar and old teammates, Baby Groot becoming teen Groot, Ayesha’s scary new weapon and the introduction of some Watchers run during and after the credits so stay glued to your seat.
Guardian ship is chased by Sovereign drone shipsCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Kraglin (Sean Gunn) is still loyal to YonduCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Wrapping Up
Wow, what a spectacle! There is almost too much detailed, eye-candy action in this second Guardians movie but many visual effects are very new and creative. Thankfully, under the massive battle action, lies the old truth that “family” doesn’t have to be blood. The whole movie is about finding and acknowledging that diverse people in your life may really qualify more as family than anyone you are related to. This warm-and-fuzzy core to the film along with the even older belief that love can conquer all, is satisfying. Corny? Sure but for this group of characters, it works very nicely.
Baby Groot munches on candy during battleCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Acting is spot on, everyone is in character and the jabs and jokes are still flowing although some seem a little too “staged” or forced. Silly and fun references to Mary Poppins and Pac-Man are a high point. Baby Groot, an ultra-charming CGI masterpiece, almost steals the film with his adorable expressions and not-quite-grasping-it action. The “de-aging” of Kurt Russell for opening scenes is remarkable. If you’ve ever seen his early films, yep, that’s exactly how he looked. Bravo CGI dudes!
Zoe Saldana and Chris Pratt on set with director James GunnCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Didn’t love the music in this one as much as the tunes in the first movie but it still contributes to the story and makes for fun listening.
Baby Groot tries to hook up Peter Quill's speaker systemCourtesy of Marvel Studios
Overall, you will certainly be entertained by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and will be primed for Vol 3. We go four stars.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Movie Rating:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 PosterCourtesy of Marvel Studios
See Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in theaters now!
Have Your Say
Are you dying to see this new Guardians adventure? Which is your fave character? Leave everyone a comment below!
