I knew almost nothing about Marvel characters until I had a son and my husband started sharing Marvel with him. I was drawn in and once the Avengers movies hit the big screen, I was hooked. When I watched the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie I was surprised at how different it was from the other Marvel movies. Grittier, cruder, funnier. I was not sure what to make of it, but I watched it a few more times and found that I really liked it after all. I was beyond excited going into the early screening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Guys, you should be excited, too, because this movie is terrific.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 pretty much picks up where the original left off. If you have not seen the first movie, be sure to watch it before seeing Vol. 2 to avoid incessant questioning of your neighbor during the movie. The characters from the first movie return and there are some surprises in the character development and story lines of many of them. The movie has a lot of action and violence, but it is also one of the funniest movies I have seen in quite a while. I was also over the moon because there are quite a few 80s references. Totally awesome!
I will keep to my tradition of not giving you spoilers, but I do need to address the family-friendliness of the movie. Like the first movie, Vol. 2 is cruder and grittier than the Avengers movies. There is some sexual innuendo and profanity (no F-words) in the movie. Most of the sexual comments will fly over the heads of younger children. There is a brief discussion of whether or not a character has a penis. It is meant to be humorous but is very blunt, though the discussion is brief. If you were okay with your kiddos watching the first movie, this one should be fine. As I always say, know your kids and what they can and should handle. If I had to recommend an age, I would say 10 and up on this movie.
Go see this movie. Baby Groot alone is worth the price of the ticket.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief suggestive content.
Worth seeing in 3D? Yes. Without a doubt. Go for IMAX 3D if you can.
Scene after the credits? Yes. There is more than one stinger (5!) and the credits are a must-watch as well. I am Groot (you’ll get it later).
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Tommy Flanagan, Laura Haddock, with Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell
Directed by: James Gunn
Disclaimer: I attended a media screening of this movie to facilitate the review. All opinions are my own. I am Groot!
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