SPOILERS: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 - 7 Things That Worked And 3 That Didn't

We know Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is one of those rare sequels which actually delivers, but what did the movie get right and drop the ball on? Here's an in-depth look at exactly that...

By JoshWilding - May 01, 2017 09:05 AM EST

Filed Under: Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy exceeded expectations back in 2014, so the sequel being just as good - if not better - was clearly a must. Luckily, Marvel Studios and James Gunn have succeeded in delivering a winning follow-up with Vol. 2, but that's not to say the movie is completely perfect. Like pretty much every comic book adaptation, there's a lot that works really well, but some things which simply do not.

What you'll find here then is an in-depth look at Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. From the moments and story decisions which worked to the characters and scenes which did not, this is your ultimate guide to pretty much everything that's both right and wrong about the highly anticipated sequel.

It goes without saying that we're delving into some MAJOR SPOILERS here then, but fear not as not every major plot point is touched on here, so you'll still find plenty of surprises in the movie itself if you're just curious about finding out what you should expect before it reaches your country...

Didn't Work: Another Wasted Marvel Villain

Kurt Russell's Ego the Living Planet is definitely a great bad guy in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, though it's obvious from the start that there's more to him than meets the eye, so the big reveal that he wants to use Star-Lord to wipe out life and replace it with himself is easy to see coming.

It's also a goal which could have done with a little more explanation beyond the fact that he was disappointed by what he found when he ventured away from his home, but I'm nitpicking now and Ego is overall a really good addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the reason I say he was wasted is because Ego can now be added to the list of Marvel villains killed off in the final act even when it's obvious that there's so much more which could have been done with him. It feels like a waste and somewhat sours an otherwise strong character.

When James Gunn decided to include a mid-credits scene in Guardians of the Galaxy featuring the adorable Baby Groot having a dance, it's obvious that no one realised just how positively moviegoers would respond to the tiny, sentient tree. That's why Marvel and Disney took so long to get merchandise featuring the character's likeness out there, but many have suggested that Baby Groot only exists in Vol. 2 so the studio can get as many toys as possible out there.

There may or may not be some truth in that, but make no mistake about it, the beloved hero is downright incredible here. From his opening dance number set to ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" to a hilarious sequence featuring him trying and failing to retrieve Yondu's finn, he steals the show from start to finish and is even more brilliant than the trailers promised.

Back Next

Did Work: Star-Lord Gets Superpowers

When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 first revealed that Peter Quill is half Celestial and can wield the same cosmic power as his father, I began to worry for the future of the character. Was he about to ditch his helmet, guns, and repulsor boots to become an overpowered superhero along the lines of the original Captain Marvel? Thankfully not, as Ego's destruction brings his newfound abilities to a quick end, but his brief stint as a powered up character is a hell of a lot of fun.

Seeing him wield those abilities in the emotional battle with his father is downright awesome, especially as he makes such inventive use of them (the nod to Pac-Man is hilariously brilliant). By the time all is said and done, Star-Lord is back to being a regular old human and that leaves him in an interesting place for Avengers: Infinity War now he can presumably no longer hold an Infinity Stone.

Back Next

Didn't Work: The Humour

90% of the time, the jokes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 land perfectly, but there's some in here which don't work at all. Drax is a perfect example of this. An unexpected highlight of the first instalment, I'm beginning to think that was something of an unexpected coincidence as it's clear in places that Gunn is attempting to deliver the same dry sort of lines which made him such a hit last time around.

This time, however, they just don't work that well and often make Dave Bautista come off as something of a bad actor. To be fair, a lot of the cast get some terrible lines (just look at Rocket's turd talk from the trailers), but humour is subjective, so something which lands with a thud for some will be hilarious to others. As I said, most of it works fantastically - Drax's interactions with Mantis are great - but you will probably cringe at least a few times!

Back Next

Did Work: Yondu's Sacrifice

Michael Rooker's Yondu was a great part of Guardians of the Galaxy, but his role here is even more satisfying. After refusing to deliver the team to Ayesha, his men turn on him and he's forced to watch those loyal to him thrown out of an airlock into the vastness of space. Watching the Ravager interact with Rocket and Groot alone would have been cool, but the fact Gunn later delves into his love for Peter as a son takes things to another level.

So too does Yondu's decision to ultimately sacrifice himself to save Star-Lord's life in a scene which will almost certainly make you shed a tear. The way that he too dies in space almost feels like he was trying to make things even after what happened to his men, but it's his relationship with Peter which really brings some heart to this sequel. Sean Gunn's Kraglin also deserves a mention as his work here was excellent.

Back Next

Did Work: The Soundtrack

The soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy was downright amazing, so expectations were high on this sequel providing us with some more great songs. Thankfully, the movie delivers in that respect and you'll almost certainly be hunting these down for the ride home after visiting the theater. From ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" to Cat Stevens' "Father and Son" and Silver's catchy "Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang," Vol. 2 is packed with awesome tunes which should ensure this album is as big a hit as the movie itself.

It's also easy to see that Gunn did indeed write these scenes with specific songs in mind, something that gives the follow-up an advantage over the likes of Suicide Squad (which clearly just looked for some decent tunes to add later in the game and edited the scenes around them). Tyler Bates' score is also really strong here so the movie is a winner all round in this respect.

Back Next

Didn't Work: The Original Guardians

I was really excited to see Sylvester Stallone join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I came out of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 unable to give a single damn about him or the rest of the "original" Guardians (who are the respective leaders of various factions of the Ravagers here, a group we learn are pretty heroic and actually cast Yondu out for delivering Ego's children to him).

His brief scene with Yondu is mostly forgettable, and while it was pretty cool to see that character given a proper send off by them, I wasn't at all excited to see the team standing side by side. They're just a random bunch of heroes played mostly by familiar faces - good luck spotting Michael Rosenbaum, though - and while I'm not against them returning in Vol. 3, I currently have zero interest in seeing this lot take on a larger role in the MCU from this point forward. They just all seem a bit...pointless.

Back Next

Did Work (Mostly): The Post Credits Scenes

Did I expect more from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's five after-credits scenes? Definitely. That's not to say they were bad, I'm just disappointed that there was little in the way of set up for Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War as this movie would have been the perfect place for that. The first is pretty funny as Kraglin inadvertently stabs Drax through the chest with Yondu's dart and we see him then sneak off as the tough guy Guardian screams in the background.

Next up is Teenage Groot as the no longer adorable sentient tree enters a new phase of his life, while that's followed by the aforementioned original Guardians (something fans of theirs will probably love) and the promise that Adam Warlock is on the way. Unfortunately, it seems like we'll be waiting until Vol. 3 rather than Infinity War due to Ayesha's involvement. Last up is Stan Lee and The Watcher's, a fun scene, but somewhat unnecessary after his earlier cameo.

Back Next

Did Work: World Building

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 may not set up the events of Avengers: Infinity War beyond giving Star-Lord a reason for wanting to return home, but it does expand on the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some fun ways. Regardless of my feelings on the original Guardians, they could potentially bring a lot to the table, while Ayesha - who initially seems to have been wasted - creating "Adam" sets the stage for that character to step forward in a big way in this world.

Despite my above complaint, the sequel also deserves some credit for not doing an Iron Man 2 and spending half of its running times setting up another movie. Thanos could have easily been placed centre stage here, but Gunn wisely decides to instead focus on the impact the Mad Titan's actions had on his daughters. It would have been nice to see the Nova Corps again, though.

Back Next

Did Work: Family Theme

I mentioned Gamora and Nebula in the previous slide and the relationship between those two is one of many family themed highlights in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Rocket coming to terms with Star-Lord is also very interesting, especially as they come across as bickering brothers who ultimately put their differences aside and come out stronger as a result (the same can be said for Gamora and Nebula as they come on leaps and bounds here).

I've already mentioned that Peter and Ego's relationship was great to watch and the way the latter manipulates and later abuses his son to get what he wants is handled excellently, especially as it leads to Peter seeing he had a father all along in Yondu. Finally, Drax's father/daughter dynamic is also fun, and you have to hand it to Gunn for getting this theme right and not once dropping the ball.

Have you seen Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2? If so, let us know your thoughts on these points and what you think did and didn't work in the comments section down below.

Back

GOTG VOL. 2 Director Says Drax, Not Baby Groot, Was The Most Popular Character In Test Screenings

Recommended For You:

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: James Gunn Says Stan Lee's Cameo Was Inspired By Fan Theories

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?

Want to contribute?

243 Comments

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Brainiac13 - 5/1/2017, 9:53 AM

Yep another wasted villain.

Unites - 5/1/2017, 9:55 AM

COMICBOOKMOVIE.COM - 9 THINGS THAT WORK AND 1 THAT DON'T. 1. DON'T WORK: THE NEXT BUTTON

EnergyVamp - 5/1/2017, 9:57 AM

Ego was a decent villain but the fact that he killed Peter's mom was too much. It was like "oh I want to rule the galaxy....but FYI I killed your mom too" why? It was unnecessary and we already had enough motivation to stop him. Hurts Peters character cause the fate of the galaxy isn't as strong as having his dad kill his mom as motivation.

bkmeijer2 - 5/1/2017, 10:08 AM

@JH24 - That might be the only thing that the movie didnt needed. But then again, it fueled peters anger only more to stop ego

GwenLantern - 5/1/2017, 10:15 AM

@JH24 - It was an amazing moment, but I didn't really see why Ego would want to kill her at all.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Related Headlines

Guardians of the Galaxy

GOTG Director James Gunn Reveals That Darkhawk Almost Made His MCU Debut In VOL. 2

MarkCassidy

Apr 22, 2022 12:04 PM

The Suicide Squad

THE SUICIDE SQUAD Director James Gunn Responds To Steven Soderbergh: "Some People Are F*cking"

MarkCassidy

Feb 08, 2022 01:02 PM

Vol. 2

GOTG VOL. 2 Director Says Drax, Not Baby Groot, Was The Most Popular Character In Test Screenings

MarkCassidy

Nov 29, 2021 02:11 PM

Related Headlines

Guardians of the Galaxy

GOTG Director James Gunn Reveals That Darkhawk Almost Made His MCU Debut In VOL. 2

MarkCassidy

Apr 22, 2022 12:04 PM

The Suicide Squad

THE SUICIDE SQUAD Director James Gunn Responds To Steven Soderbergh: "Some People Are F*cking"

MarkCassidy

Feb 08, 2022 01:02 PM

Vol. 2

GOTG VOL. 2 Director Says Drax, Not Baby Groot, Was The Most Popular Character In Test Screenings

MarkCassidy

Nov 29, 2021 02:11 PM

The Suicide Squad

THE SUICIDE SQUAD: James Gunn Explains How The Final Scene Parallels The Last Shot Of GOTG VOL. 2 - SPOILERS

MarkCassidy

Sep 11, 2021 04:09 AM

Vol. 2

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: James Gunn Says Stan Lee's Cameo Was Inspired By Fan Theories

JoshWilding

Jul 04, 2020 03:07 AM

Vol. 2

Avengers: Endgame

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

MarkCassidy

1 hour ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Rumor Reveals Variant Who WON'T Appear As More Post-Credits Scene Details Emerge

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Latest Headlines

Star Wars

THE ACOLYTE: New Stills Released As Showrunner Talks Mystery And Paying Homage To George Lucas

JoshWilding

5 mins ago

Avengers: Endgame

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

MarkCassidy

1 hour ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Rumor Reveals Variant Who WON'T Appear As More Post-Credits Scene Details Emerge

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

X-Men '97

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Tells Fans To Watch These X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Before Finale

JoshWilding

2 hours ago

Kraven the Hunter

KRAVEN THE HUNTER's Theatrical Release Has Been Pushed Back Yet Again

MarkCassidy

7 hours ago

Deadpool & Wolverine

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Merchandise Reveals New Promo Art With Logan Fully Suited-Up

MarkCassidy

8 hours ago

Hot Headlines

269 comments

RUMOR: Marvel Studios Interested In NOPE Star Keke Palmer For A Major MCU Role

MarkCassidy

2 days ago EST

118 comments

RUMOR: Wesley Snipes Set To Return As BLADE In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

107 comments

THUNDERBOLTS* Star Olga Kurylenko Teases Her Return As Taskmaster With New BTS Photo

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

70 comments

Michael B. Jordan Channels BLADE In First BTS Look At Ryan Coogler's Untitled Vampire Movie

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

64 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

HERCULES Producers The Russo Brothers Reveal Where Thing Stand With The Live-Action Musical

More Cartoons & Animated ►

MARVLE RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details Revealed

More Anime & Manga ►

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES Features A Cameo From ANOTHER Member Of THE SANDMAN's Family - SPOILERS

More Horror ►

MONKEY MAN Exclusive Interview With Mask Designer Eddie Yang; Dev Patel Film Now Available On Digital HD

More Action Movies & TV ►

WWE DRAFT: Night 1 On SMACKDOWN Brings A Couple Of Surprises But Little In The Way Of Major Changes

More Pro Wrestling ►

THE ACOLYTE Stills Highlight The Show's Lead Characters As Leslye Headland Teases An Epic STAR WARS Mystery

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

SPOILERS: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 - 7 Things That Worked And 3 That Didn't

We know Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is one of those rare sequels which actually delivers, but what did the movie get right and drop the ball on? Here's an in-depth look at exactly that...

Didn't Work: Another Wasted Marvel Villain

Did Work: Baby Groot

Did Work: Star-Lord Gets Superpowers

Didn't Work: The Humour

Did Work: Yondu's Sacrifice

Did Work: The Soundtrack

Didn't Work: The Original Guardians

Did Work (Mostly): The Post Credits Scenes

Did Work: World Building

Did Work: Family Theme

GOTG VOL. 2 Director Says Drax, Not Baby Groot, Was The Most Popular Character In Test Screenings

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: James Gunn Says Stan Lee's Cameo Was Inspired By Fan Theories

GOTG Director James Gunn Reveals That Darkhawk Almost Made His MCU Debut In VOL. 2

THE SUICIDE SQUAD Director James Gunn Responds To Steven Soderbergh: "Some People Are F*cking"

GOTG VOL. 2 Director Says Drax, Not Baby Groot, Was The Most Popular Character In Test Screenings

GOTG Director James Gunn Reveals That Darkhawk Almost Made His MCU Debut In VOL. 2

THE SUICIDE SQUAD Director James Gunn Responds To Steven Soderbergh: "Some People Are F*cking"

GOTG VOL. 2 Director Says Drax, Not Baby Groot, Was The Most Popular Character In Test Screenings

THE SUICIDE SQUAD: James Gunn Explains How The Final Scene Parallels The Last Shot Of GOTG VOL. 2 - SPOILERS

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: James Gunn Says Stan Lee's Cameo Was Inspired By Fan Theories

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Director James Gunn Tells Fans Where To Find TONS Of Easter Eggs

Popular Headlines

RUMOR: Wesley Snipes Set To Return As BLADE In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Despite Original Actor Turning Down Role, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Will Still Feature A [SPOILER] Variant

MCU Rumor Round-Up: AVENGERS 5 Characters, Galactus Casting, Scrapped PHOTON Series, And More

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Merchandise Reveals New Promo Art With Logan Fully Suited-Up

X-MEN '97 Star Seemingly Confirms Return Of [SPOILER] In Three-Part "Tolerance Is Extinction" Finale

THE ACOLYTE: New Stills Released As Showrunner Talks Mystery And Paying Homage To George Lucas

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Rumor Reveals Variant Who WON'T Appear As More Post-Credits Scene Details Emerge

THE ACOLYTE: New Stills Released As Showrunner Talks Mystery And Paying Homage To George Lucas

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors On Potential Robert Downey Jr. MCU Return: "We Closed That Book"

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Rumor Reveals Variant Who WON'T Appear As More Post-Credits Scene Details Emerge

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Beau DeMayo Tells Fans To Watch These X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Before Finale

KRAVEN THE HUNTER's Theatrical Release Has Been Pushed Back Yet Again

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Merchandise Reveals New Promo Art With Logan Fully Suited-Up

Hot Headlines

RUMOR: Marvel Studios Interested In NOPE Star Keke Palmer For A Major MCU Role

RUMOR: Wesley Snipes Set To Return As BLADE In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

THUNDERBOLTS* Star Olga Kurylenko Teases Her Return As Taskmaster With New BTS Photo

Michael B. Jordan Channels BLADE In First BTS Look At Ryan Coogler's Untitled Vampire Movie

MCU Rumor Round-Up: AVENGERS 5 Characters, Galactus Casting, Scrapped PHOTON Series, And More

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

THE ACOLYTE Stills Highlight The Show's Lead Characters As Leslye Headland Teases An Epic STAR WARS Mystery

REBEL MOON 2 Is Netflix's No. 1 Movie Worldwide Despite Abysmal Rotten Tomatoes Critics AND Audience Scores

STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE Star Explains How Vernestra Rwoh Will Differ From Books; New Still Released

REBEL MOON Director Zack Snyder Shares First Official Look At TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Animated Series

THE LITTLE MERMAID: Ariel Gets An R-Rated Makeover In First Trailer For New Live-Action Adaptation

STAR WARS: TALES OF THE EMPIRE Clip Sees General Grievous Attack Dathomir's Nightsisters

Cartoons & Animated Features

HERCULES Producers The Russo Brothers Reveal Where Thing Stand With The Live-Action Musical

X-MEN '97 Showrunner Reveals Which X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episodes Fans Should Watch Before Finale

X-MEN '97: Original Voice Actor May Have Just Spoiled Major Character Return In Three-Part Finale

TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Teaser Trailer Hypes Up Return Of Heroes In A Half Shell

X-MEN '97: Beau DeMayo Hints At Possible Appearances From BLACK PANTHER And SPIDER-MAN

X-MEN '97 Hinted At The Show's Big Bad As Early As The Second Episode - SPOILERS

Gaming

MARVLE RIVALS Closed Alpha Test Start Date And Details Revealed

New VR Game ALIEN: ROGUE INCURSION Announced For Holiday 2024 Release

KINGDOM HEARTS 4 Could Release Next Year, According To Insider

CLASH OF CLANS Developer Announces Global Release Date Of New Game SQUAD BUSTERS

Disney Reportedly Working On KINGDOM HEARTS Adaptation

FALLOUT Star Ella Purnell Reveals What She Wants To Explore With Lucy In Season 2

Anime & Manga

MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU'RE NEXT Sound Director Shares Promising Update On Upcoming Film

Next FORTNITE X MY HERO ACADEMIA Collab Could Add The League Of Villains

KAIJU NO. 8: RELAX Manga Spin-Off Announced; Set To Debut This June

BLACK BUTLER -PUBLIC SCHOOL ARC- English Dub Hits Crunchyroll Tomorrow

Classic Anime Sci-Fi Series GENESIS CLIMBER MOSPEADA Now Streaming On Crunchyroll

Bandai Namco Announces THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME Video Game Adaptation

Horror

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES Features A Cameo From ANOTHER Member Of THE SANDMAN's Family - SPOILERS

First Look At Michael B. Jordan On The Set Of Ryan Coogler's Untitled Jim Crow-Era VAMPIRE Movie

THEM: THE SCARE Exclusive Interview With Star Deborah Ayorinde On The Bone-Chilling New Season

THEM: THE SCARE Exclusive Interview With Singer/Actor Luke James On His Terrifying New Character

THE LITTLE MERMAID Attacks In First Trailer For New R-Rated Live-Action Adaptation

28 YEARS LATER: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Ralph Fiennes Officially Join Cast

Action Movies & TV