Review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) by Enrique F — 10 Mar 2018

One of the few Marvel films that focuses on developing strong characters and isn't a copy and paste repeat of it's first films. It has the same sense of humor, style, action, and approach to characters (having seemingly one note archetypes that are actually multilayered with humor and background and portrayal) but knows how to expand upon that to deliver a strong narrative.

Drax had his arc last film and in this film serves as a humorous familial anchor for the Guardians - almost like an embarassing mom. Gamora is psuedo team mom but also has her own family dynamic to handle with her sister Nebula which is expanded and examined further as their uprbringing by Thanos isn't just comic booky - it's abuse and it messed the two up.

Star Lord and Rocket get the most expansion with Rocket's spitefullness and actions get examined and explored as what they are: emotional responses of fear and disbelief that he can actually make friends and before they (he percieves) will leave him or not befriend him, he sabotages things before hand as a means of control.

The center is Star Lord's arc learning to appreciate the family he does have over trying to find a glorified and unrealistic image in his mind of what family is in the form of Ego and how that collides and clashes.

Combined with an apt fitting soundtrack of cool songs that also so a stellar job of telling the story - no song is unimportant or picked at random - special effects that make the world and characters visually colorful and vibrant - at least as of 2017 it's the best Marvel Cinematic Universe movie since the last Guardians of the Galaxy.

This is more than just a good superhero movie - it's a great MOVIE.