I wasn’t a huge fan of the first Guardians adventure, but I certainly enjoyed aspects of it — and the same is true for its sequel.  By and large it is a dopey mess that cannot be taken seriously, and that is a huge fault.  As a science-fiction fan I want to watch science-fiction movies that take science seriously, or at least have something worthwhile to say.  This film completely fails on the first point, and isn’t strong on the second, although I must admit that it forced me to learn something about myself as it concluded.

James Gunn’s film follows the motley, misfit crew across the galaxy as they meet Star-Lord’s dad (Kurt Russell) and save the whole universe this time.  The plotting involving Star-Lord’s dad was interesting at first, but eventually went completely kooky.  The climax of the story is an orgy of special effects (which aren’t that special, or convincing) at which I was shaking my head, trying to ward off the impending headache I knew was coming my way.  Why studio execs think overblown sequences of computer-generated destruction are entertaining is beyond my understanding; I would much rather watch tight, small-scale stories like Frank Langella interacting with a robot (Robot and Frank, 2012) or Bradford Dillman studying incendiary cockroaches (Bug, 1975).

That interminable climax made me ache for the movie to end, but then the battle finished and the movie returned to its characters for an emotional wrap-up — and it worked.  I was affected by the shared grief and bittersweet relief of those who survived, and the way in which a certain character was given a proper send-off to the great beyond.  It struck me then that no matter how insipid or clumsy the big action sequence might be, as long as a story provides equal importance to the feelings and relationships of characters we have grown to like, that story can be moving and powerful.  The movie ends with a palpable sense of comradeship and community, and I deeply responded to it.  So much so that I became self-aware of my own need for such a feeling.  That was a surprise to me; it is nice to know that I can still be moved in surprising ways by movies after so many years.

But even with that minor revelation about myself, this movie is a disappointment.  The characters are inviting enough — especially Drax (Dave Bautista), Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Baby Groot — and that should ensure that this and the other Guardians films have long shelf lives, but the films themselves sure haven’t added up to much.  So much fantasy and colorful pyrotechnics tends to overshadow the fact that these movies are virtually empty of meaningful content, except for the message that we all need each other.  I really didn’t need two plus hours of galactic mumbo jumbo to tell me that.  ☆ ☆.  25 May 2017.