Lisa Johnson Mandell

Invites you inside entertainment

  • Home
  • Celeb Homes
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Must Haves
  • Fashion
  • About
  • Contact

HOME OF THE WEEK

$85M Mansion in Westlake Village: Can you believe top Hollywood exec Thomas Tull in leaving this gorgeous estate behind and moving to Pittsburgh?

SEE MORE CELEB HOMES

MOVIES

Isle of Dogs review Franke Feldman

Isle of Dogs: See what Hollywood Hound Frankie Feldman has to say about his colleagues in this outrageously creative animated film from writer/director Wes Anderson.

SEE MORE MOVIES

MUST HAVES

Veronica Beard

Veronica Beard Dickie Blazer: Totally worth the splurge, I got compliments and recognition from ‘Wonder Woman’ stars when I wore it to a posh screening. Check out its clever secret.

SEE MORE MUST HAVES

ADVERTISEMENT

LATEST TWEETS

Have you seen the Marvelous Malibu Pyramid House? It's quite a trip -- see inside: https://t.co/EsbKDcnqBu - 1 week ago

Take a look at these gloriously Gothic "A Series of Unfortunate Events' fashions-- Season 2 on #Netflix now!… https://t.co/ceWoqgjA7s - 1 week ago

Looks like #AQUIETPLACE might beat #Rampage at the boxoffice this weekend. Here's my review of AQP — The Sound of B… https://t.co/14aD2MsrWY - 1 week ago

Visit My Profile

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 Review — Brandy, You’re a Fine Film

May 5, 2017

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 Review by James Mandell 

“The root of the groot is the newt who’s too cute. Baby Groot steals the show”

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 Review by James Mandell So if the Galaxy needs saving, best get Sylvester Stallone to pitch in – go Rocky! Well, not really, but the dude makes an appearance, which reflects the throw-nine-figures-in-a-bowl-and-press-SPIN mentality that powers this second chapter of the lovable Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, which with its likely blockbuster success, will be with us throughout the sci-fi continuum.

You’d expect the whole thing to get amped up and result in one insane chase after fight scene after another, and you’d be right. Clocking in at 2:17 it’s a wee bit cumbersome, but there’s so much fun here, doggone-it, I’m just Groot.

A family affair from scene one, our intrepid outsiders are soon introduced to an enigmatic Kurt Russell, playing Ego, a man whose simple plan is to live up to his name. But the root of the groot is the newt who’s too cute. Baby Groot steals the show, with a dance-powered streak of independence that’s delicious. That’s the key to all the charm in these fractured, super-charged characters.

You can’t help but laugh out loud as the jokes fly between the team’s fumbling social cluelessness, sorting out their feelings as they steal, smash, burn, loot, flee and bicker over everything from who gets the boot to who’s… (sigh) groot. Throughout, ethics, love, principle and loyalty are treated with maddeningly stubborn and old-fashioned endearment, outrage and glee.

It’s mystifyingly connected with an insipid 80’s soundtrack that’s as saccharine as it is appealingly effective. A whole new classic soft rock parade of faded soundtrack tunes plants a painful grin of eye-rolling recognition that will likely stay stuck on your face till it hurts. And once again, it’s “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” centering Chris Pratt’s inner turmoil, which is so weird, it just works.

What’s the chance of you’re humming it on the way out of the theater? Just try to relax and enjoy it.

Rated PG-13

2 Hours 17 minutes

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 Review by James Mandell 

 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2018 Lisa Johnson Mandell