Even though there's plenty of good humour to trade-off with the lame, it all feels so déjà-vu. This one feels very much like a roller-coaster ride that doesn't come off as good the second time around
'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2'
U/A; Action/Sci-fi
Director: James Gunn
Cast: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel
Rating: 
The gamey gang of Galaxy protectors who spiced up the intergalactic sci-fi entertainment with a unique blend of irreverent pop-culture references and snarky humour return with as much of a splash as Vol 1... but it's not quite in the league of its predecessor. There's really no novelty to it and the ungainly length just keeps you hoping for a quick end.
Marvel may not have expected much from its B team of intergalactic superheroes but the audience sure lapped it all up with a relish that garnered Vol 1 a $771 million boost all year through. And with that it became the fifth biggest of all Marvel outings. So it's but obvious that Marvel would have big dreams spinning out of this sequel under review. Vol 1 was disarmingly wacky and amusing but Vol 2 doesn't quite get there. And it's not for wont of trying. The B team that meshed-in Star Wars with Star Trek in a cheeky tone replays the same irreverence but it barely hits home. The narrative gets scattered about as though fashioned by winds of change and the resultant fire-works look to be of a distinct Chinese make - impressively splashy but lacking in depth and emotive resonance. Quill's Daddy issues are milked dry but the stretch of imagination it hangs its weight on, feels a little too fragile and flimsy to be sustainable. And as for the survival of the universe, it's not a major concern when Quill and his Daddy can just as well create their own private one with as simple an act as the clapping of hands.
The goofy gang of misfits-maverick mercenaries all, who were slanderously appealing first time round, appear to have dimmed their mojo what with their rough edges and indecorous bickering making the ensuing wild goose chase seem like a unhappy family vacation. Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and her badass sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) have a love-hate relationship and it's a tedious one. Rocket the cybernetically enhanced raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) is generally ill-tempered with ego issues taking the fun out of his wisecracks here. Baby Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) a splinter of the original has big ink pool eyes that pull you in but there's nothing much he can do other than slink into the tiniest of gaps and pull off a blast. Dave Bautista's Drax may have more to do this time around but it doesn't amount to a laugh riot. Seeing Kurt Russell in his robust youth is definitely the highlight here.
The hysterically frenetic ballistic fireworks has video game parlor affect. Even though there's plenty of good humour to trade-off with the lame, it all feels so déjà-vu. The careless attitude is quite appealing no doubt but it's a case of been there, done that. Even though writer-director Gunn infuses the experience with a playful exuberance, it feels limiting. The CGI and effects are prime but that's never enough. The longish runtime also makes it tougher to be entertained throughout. This one feels very much like a roller-coaster ride that doesn't come off as good the second time around.
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