For those of us who enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) is, on, the surface, more of the same, full of snarky attitude, unexpected dialogue response patterns, crazy action scenes, and snazzy special effects. Thematically, however, it’s somewhat different and better focused.
There are two themes. The first is easy: family. Family, defined by who cares for you and you care for, and not family in a strictly biological sense. This is useful in a world where xenophobia brings concomitant risks of devastating war.
The second theme is the meaning and/or purpose of life, from the point of view of a near-God. This is portrayed from what appears to be the perspective of a Boltzmann Brain, which is an example of a self-aware entity arising spontaneously from a state of chaos. Often used for mind experiments involving infinite time lines, this apparently ridiculous concept takes center stage (if not under the actual name) in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, exploring the concept of a creature created in the midst of space, and how, upon gaining self-awareness, discovers the metaphysical burden of not having a purpose or meaning to its existence. The result? The suggestion that a non-social creature is unable to conceive of a life spent in the service of the community, which may seem obvious when stated in this way – but, given the alleged existence of the Abrahamic God, raises important questions with regard to its ability to function in such a position.
All that said, it’s easy enough to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Outside of some problems hearing all the dilaogue, which might be a problem with the cinema, it’s an enjoyable experience, even if Groot is not a scene stealer as he was in the first movie. But see the first one before seeing this one.
Recommended.
