MCU Commentary Rewatch: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 2
(Cover art by Matt Ferguson, for the Blu Ray release. https://www.cakesandcomics.com/)
This movie is flat-out fun, and chocked full of all sorts of chewy fan-service. I don’t think there’s a lot of deep meaning to it, and honestly don’t expect it to crack the top ten of my commentary rankings.
But given that the current ten spot is INCREDIBLE HULK, that may just be idle talk. Also, I didn’t expect DOCTOR STRANGE to rocket to the top of the list (my initial projection was a solid 6), so at this point anything can happen.
I will say in advance that this is a movie about fathers and sons, something I’m more than a little sensitive to right now.
TL:DR;
Commentary Ranking: #4 of 24
For reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_Vol._2
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 premiered in Tokyo on April 10, 2017, and was released in the United States on May 5, 2017, as part of Phase Three of the MCU. It grossed more than $863 million worldwide, making it the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2017, while also outgrossing its predecessor. The film received praise for its visuals, direction, soundtrack, humor, and performances (particularly those of Rooker and Russell), though some critics deemed it inferior to the original. It received a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 90th Academy Awards. The sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, will be released in 2023.”
Commentary Takeaways
CONTENT WARNING – Feelings
So here’s the deal. I’ve listened to this commentary before, but not in the focused way I’m doing now. The movie itself is excellent, and a wonderful oddity among the MCU. It’s about fathers and sons, and a paean to Generation X and our daddy issues.
I had two fathers of note, one of whom was absent, and one who was absent not by choice. I’ve had to select my own role models as I made my way through life, and I make notoriously bad decisions.
A few years back, when I was looking to adopt, a social worker who didn’t like me overmuch asked why I thought I’d be a good father.
I told her quite simply, “I’ve seen every kind of bad father there is, including myself. How could I possibly be worse?”
James Gunn is Generation X. From all accounts I can find, he and his brothers had a fairly normal Catholic upbringing, but I can feel the 80s pain lurking behind his words as he talks about fathers and sons.
Gunn doesn’t spend a lot of time talking about the mechanics of filmmaking. He chooses instead to talk about his friends and the performances they give. In fact, he was 1 hour and 12 minutes in before he said a word about directing the film. The closest he got to talking about screenwriting was, “When you’re writing a story, you have to listen to what it’s telling you, and where it wants to go.”
I feel this so hard. And somehow, despite everything, he made the story of a little boy who just wanted to know who his father was pay attention and salute.
Then there’s the story of Drax, whose family was murdered in front of him, and the unending sadness he feels.
Of Gamora and Nebula, whose parents were also murdered by Thanos, and made to fight to the death for his sadistic pleasure.
Of Yondu, who was sold into slavery as a baby.
Of Starhawk, who plucked Yondu out of the Kree fighting pits, before ultimately gaining him back through an act of love.
And the story of Rocket, who has the worst teen angst of all the Guardians, and only realizes why people love him after one of them dies.
This commentary doesn’t suck at all. Gunn even recognizes the criticism he got from the Vol 1 track, that he spent too much time talking about how awesome his friends are.
On this track (in not so many words), he tells those critics to fuck the hell off.
“No, we’re not friends,” says Drax. “We’re family.”
Now if you’ll please excuse me, there’s something in my eye…
Commentary Ranking
1. DOCTOR STRANGE
2. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
3. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
4. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 2
5. THOR: THE DARK WORLD
6. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 1
7. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
8. AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
9. ANT-MAN
10.
11. IRON MAN 2
12. INCREDIBLE HULK
13. IRON MAN 3
14. MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS
15. IRON MAN
24. THOR
I’m as surprised as the rest of you. After writing my takeaways, I start from the bottom of the list and ask, “Is this better than…,” and proceed accordingly.
Pre watch, I thought this was going to land just outside the top ten. But as I made my way up the ladder, it was clear to me that the top ten needed to be more than just better than the bottom ten. It needed to inspire, to challenge my perspectives. And I also realized that renumbering the bottom of the list over and over again as the movies got better was just a waste of my time.
SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING (which I watched parts of today on cable) is coming. BLACK PANTHER is coming, and may well jump straight to the top of the list. ENDGAME is coming, and may destroy the list entirely.
But for now, for tonight, GotG2 is standing in the sunlight laughing, hiding ‘hind a rainbow’s wall.
Do you remember, when we used to sing?