“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (Action, Adventure, Science-Fiction: 2 hours, 16 minutes)

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker and Kurt Russell

Director: James Gunn

Rated: PG-13 (Violence, strong language, and brief suggestive content)

 

Movie Review: “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) received nominations for two Oscars for makeup and hairstyling and visual effects. It was sound entertainment directed by James Gunn. 

“Vol. 2” is just as entertaining, although sillier and packs in too much often, and boasts grand visual effects and futuristic attire, too. The latest outing for the Guardians is a pure popcorn flick. 

Guardians of the Galaxy saved the universe once. Now, a race called the Sovereign pursues them. In addition, the Guardians face personal predicaments. When all appears under control, Peter Quill (Pratt), a.k.a. Star-Lord, meets Ego (Russell), an immortal claiming to be his father. The Guardians fight new and old foes and find new friends as they seek to solve the mystery of Quill’s father.

Marvel Cinematic Universe becomes more diverse with “Vol. 2,” the screenplay is a comedy-driven entertainment and action-packed. It entertains, although tries to put everything into the movie. Pirates, a living planet, golden humanoids who look like gold-clad Paris Hiltons, enemies with a grudge and Baby Groot. Many of these people have a subplot within “Vol. 2.” The multiple subplots are too much. 

The visual and special effects are plentiful also. Some scenes appear like sheer animated facets. Yet, the surplus visual effects fit the superhero/comic world.

Those notions aside, “Vol. 2” is enjoyable. It is goofy superhero action similar to its predecessor. Despite the overkill on characters and their substories, “Vol. 2” is a worthy diversion. It is a nice distraction for those wanting just entertainment.

Grade: B- (Guardians of fun if nothing else.)

“The Lost City of Z” (Period Drama/History: 2 hours, 21 minutes)

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller and Tom Holland

Director: James Gray

Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, violence, nudity, gore and disturbing imagery)

 

Movie Review: A true-life drama, “Lost City of Z” is a throwback to yesteryear’s movies that were adventurous, exotic treks into the unknown realms. 

It provides plenty. Entertainment and thrilling moments are present while offering thought-provoking biographical information. 

In the early 1900s, Lt. Col. Percival Fawcett (Hunnam) treks through the Amazon jungles to find a mysterious city. Fawcett’s last trip to the area in the 1920s is with his oldest son, Jack (Holland). What happened to them is still a mystery nearly 92 years later.

David Grann’s book is the basis for the movie. It is a nice getaway for those looking for adventure and an interesting drama.

The cast is agreeable. Actors make this a consistent drama. Hunnam, Pattinson, Miller and Holland offer engaging roles. 

Fawcett was one of the inspirations for the Indiana Jones films, and Hunnam makes the character’s intent solid. Miller plays his loving and formidable wife well. Pattinson is different but good. They make one want to follow their characters into the jungle.

A major slight is the fast manner in which the story moves. “Lost City of Z” chronicles multiple years of Fawcett’s life. The movie appears jagged at times as it jumps to some scenes without a smooth transition. The disjointing shifts affect the potency of the adventure offered.

Otherwise, Director James Gray (“We Own the Night”) writes an adventurous portrait. Again, it is a nice getaway from the concrete jungles of modern society.

Grade: B (A good find)

*Playing in larger cities . . .

 

“The Dinner” (Drama/Mystery: 2 hours)

Starring: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Steve Coogan, and Rebecca Hall

Director: Oren Moverman

Rated: R (Profanity, drug-alcohol use by teens, disturbing violent content)

 

Movie Review: The neat part about this psychological drama is that four people go to dinner at a nice restaurant, but the dysfunctional family never appears to eat. Interruptions are constant. A nonsensical narrative based on Herman Koch’s internationally best-selling novel interrupts audiences.

Stan Lohman (Gere), a congressman running for governor, and his wife, Katelyn (Hall), invite his estranged, troubled brother, Paul (Coogan), and his wife, (Linney), to join him and his wife, Katelyn (Rebecca Hall), for dinner at an expensive and fashionable restaurant. 

The couples’ main reason for the meeting is their 16-year-old sons have committed a shocking crime. The parents must decide what to do next. The night becomes an intense dinner affair when ethics, love and family collide.

The plot is engaging but its execution is poor. It fails to connect people in a manner that is consistent. The story waffles incoherently for nearly an hour and 45 minutes before getting to its apex. 

A main reason for this inarticulate execution is Oren Moverman’s screenplay fails to develop his characters’ story fully. The story also has holes, and unexplained additions do not add to the story. Moverman forgets a movie is not like a book. A book has to be more of a straight line. A screenplay has a limited time to tell the main part of a story.

This tale wanders into unknown realms, including Civil War scenes that last far too long. Other scenes offer audiences unnecessary scenes with respects to the main plot. Sometimes, these scenes appear from another movie. Characters bicker continually about 45 minutes before the main plot surfaces. By then, audiences may want to depart from this Jerry Springer episode.

A shame, the script is a poor execution. The cast is a talented group. They play their parts well. Gere, Linney, Coogan, and Hall are especially appealing. They create nice tension-filled moments. They are commendable. Still, their performances would be more noteworthy if they happened in a narrative that makes more sense.

Grade: C- (Omit the invitation.)

*Playing in larger cities . . .