#JustaQuickiePlease: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Review

Rarely does a sequel better its predecessor.  Even more uncommon, does a film follow-up match the quality of its forerunner.  But to have a second surpass its first; well that is the cinematic equivalent of a needle in a haystack.  James Gunn apparently never got that memo, as he has accomplished the seemingly impossible in crafting a movie that not only surpasses the original but is, without a doubt, the best Marvel movie to date.   Saturated with well timed and superiorly delivered humor mixed effortlessly with moments of sincerity that tugs at even the tightest of heart strings, Gunn creates a picture that reminds us of everything we used to love about going to the theater and the wondrous escape it provided.  Pratt, Saldana, Bautista, Cooper, Rooker, and Gillian all return in all of their illustrious, tongue in cheek, bigger than life glory with Russell and Klementieff effectively added to the ranks, rounding off this perfect ensemble.   However, it is Baby Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) that steals every scene and provides one of the single, greatest openings in movie history.  With stunning effects that shock and awe from moment one and a story that has as much depth as it does thrills and levity, Volume 2 isn't just a film, it's a visual amusement park.  If that was not enough, Gunn tops it all off with a soundtrack that literally defines awesomeness.   Spoiler alert, I'll never think of Mary Poppins or David Hasselhoff the same way again.  5 out of 5 Kernels: for all it embodies, this is, without hesitation, the Star Wars for the next generation.