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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

★★★ — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

James Gunn returned to the director's chair for this Marvel Studios sequel, following the considerable surprise of the original 2014 film, which had been widely regarded as a risky bet on relatively unknown comic book characters. By the time production began on Vol. 2, that risk had paid off spectacularly, and the sequel carried a reported $200 million budget, roughly double its predecessor's. Gunn, who had come up through low-budget genre work (most notably the 2006 horror-comedy Slither), wrote the script himself and shot primarily at Pinewood Atlanta Studios. The film arrived during the mid-period peak of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a moment when the studio's formula was still generating substantial goodwill, and it went on to gross over $860 million worldwide.

James Gunn returns with more cosmic chaos, killer ’70s and ’80s tunes, and a galaxy full of neon, snark, and heartfelt weirdness, but while *Vol. 2* has charm and spectacle in spades, it doesn’t quite match the freshness or emotion of the 1st one. The first film was a surprise hit, a ragtag space adventure that felt new and exciting. This one, for all its polish and humour, plays more like a well-made sequel that’s trying a little too hard to recapture lightning in a bottle. The story dives into Peter Quill’s origins, introducing his long-lost father, Ego, a living planet played by Kurt Russell, who brings effortless cool but whose arc collapses under the weight of a poorly thought-out twist. The film spends a lot of time on daddy issues and emotional backstories, especially for Gamora and Nebula, which works in places, but often at the expense of the tight pacing and balance the first film nailed. There’s also too much of the film focused on Mantis and Drax’s odd-couple shtick, which starts funny and slowly wears thin. That said, the Guardians still have chemistry, the action is vibrant, and the soundtrack remains a highlight. Baby Groot dancing his way through the opening credits is pure Marvel gold and probablt the most memorable segment. But for all its flash and heart, Vol. 2 feels overstuffed, a little too sentimental, and less focused than it should be. It’s enjoyable, yes, but ultimately, a step down from the original. Good, not great.

Rating: ★★★ | Year: 2017 | Watched: 2025-08-14

View on Letterboxd →

Where to watch (UK)

Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK

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