Strap in for some fun

The Guardians of the Galaxy.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (MA15+)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Zoe Saldana

POP in the mix-tape and head into the wide blue yonder – the gang who turned Marvel’s cinematic universe on its ear is back.
Guardians of The Galaxy showed that Marvel’s superheroes didn’t have to take themselves seriously to make good movies (or serious money) – take note DC!
Led by Christ Pratt’s misfit Star Lord and Bradley Cooper as a wise-cracking Raccoon, for some the original was a bit of a surprise hit, for others a well-timed shot in the arm for Marvel.
Making a second one seemed like a no-brainer given its success and also like a risk given its originality.
But if the first one introduced the characters, the second has gently fleshed them out more – all with a lot of humour, a dose of silliness and more than a touch of compassion.
This time around director James Gunn has not only extended Star Lord’s story – bringing in his long-lost father, played deliciously by Kurt Russell but also given texture to some of the less featured characters including Dave Bautista’s Drax and Michael Rooker’s Yondu – who come close to stealing this movie from under Pratt’s nose.
While there is an underlying thread of families and belonging, all in all this is more about having a fun time at the cinema than trying to preach or teach.
– Tania Phillips