Let me warn you – I am going to do my best to not let any spoilers slip. But I can’t make any promises on this one. Also, this is not going to be the most family-friendly review I have ever written. With that being said, let’s move on and talk about what I am pretty certain is my new favorite movie.
I will admit that I have not see the first Guardians of the Galaxy yet. In all honesty, I am usually with my Neurotic Disney Kid (NDK) who just is not into those sorts of movies. She was also too young to have seen it when it first hit theaters. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is rated PG-13, and let me tell you – it earns EVERY BIT of that rating, but in a good way. The use of colorful language and overly obnoxious attitudes are about the worst you are going to get from this movie. There are a fighting scenes that could be intense – but no more so, in my eyes, than any other Marvel movie I have seen. Be prepared – this movie is 136 minutes long – you will need a snack!
Yes, You Can See this Movie Without Seeing the First One
Going to see this movie without having seen the first one had me wondering if I would be lost and confused throughout the movie. I was familiar with the characters, but that was the extent of my Guardians knowledge. I am happy to report the only thing I wanted to understand was why Baby Groot was a baby. I knew he was an adult in the first movie, so I was not sure why he was a baby now. I will say that I am fully ready to watch the first movie now – on a night that NDK is in bed early! So as long as you have an idea as to who the characters are, you should be fine.
Why This Movie Is PG-13
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is rated PG-13 sci-fi action and violence, brief suggestive content, and language. This movie certainly has a LOT of sci-fi action and violence, but not in a “cover your eyes,” gory, kind of way. Lots of aliens (right – they’re all aliens in this movie?) meet their demise by way of blasters, booby-traps and other contraptions. Brief suggestive content is a little on the frequent side and language is definitely present. For the older crowd, it is not cringe worthy. This movie is definitely on the mild side compared to others.
If I Had to Pick One Thing I Didn’t Like
Let me say, while I understand that the Guardians are known as “a-holes,” (yes, I looked it up), the use of one particular word really got under my skin and made me twitch. It’s a personal thing – I just do not like it. And it was used quite frequently. If I had to pick anything at all, that would be it. So, what’s the word in question? “D**chebag.” There is a fair amount of colorful language in the movie, but this one really got under my skin.
What You Can Take Away From This Movie
Believe it or not, there is a take-away here! In all of what makes this a PG-13 movie, there is more good than the not-so-good.
“Sometimes, the thing you’re searching for your whole life is right there by your side all along.”
Why didn’t anyone tell me this was a tearjerker? The Guardians are not just ‘guardians.’ They aren’t friends. They are a family. And even when they are in their darkest moments and do not like each other, they are there, no questions asked, when someone needs support or help.
Baby Groot & Other Laughs
There are quite a few laughs in this movie. While most are related to some sort of crude outburst, there were some that were just cute. Baby Groot is just like any small child – oblivious to all around them and in their own world! Baby Groot is a show-stealer with those big, innocent eyes! Drax’s dry sense of humor is harsh, but funny. And all that surrounds “some unspoken thing” will leave you with a smile.
These Are Spoilers – For Sure
Ok, if you want to know what you absolutely must watch for, here is what I picked up. I am sure I missed a lot, especially after not seeing the first one. If you catch something I missed, let me know, because I definitely want to see this one again!
- 80’s Throwbacks galore!
- Speaking of throwbacks, keep your eyes open for Howard the Duck – I had no idea he was in the first movie until I mentioned it to a friend, but he is there, in two different spots.
- Stan Lee – not once, but twice 🙂
- “I AM GROOT” in the credits – see how many you can count!
- Stay through all of the credits – 5 scenes!!
- The Guardians will return, soon.
- Teen-age, angsty Groot.
In all, I would definitely recommend this movie to any Marvel loving, 80’s kid. This movie has you covered – laughs, not too much edge of your seat, not a whole lot of real-feels. It just leaves you with a feel good vibe, which is the best way to feel after a movie!
Disclosure: I was invited to a special screening of this movie in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
