Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Costumes: Better Than the First

By Shrey Sankalp

If the box office numbers and the sudden spike in demand for Guardians of the Galaxy costumes are anything to go by, Marvel Studios has done it again - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the studio's 15th straight success. To be fair, this shouldn't come across as a surprise to anybody - the first film is widely revered, the anticipation for the sequel was high, it was in the prime slot for summer blockbusters, and going by the sheer number of Marvel costumes (especially Guardians of the Galaxy costumes) sold in the last few years, the studio has generated enough goodwill to last them a lifetime.
Of course, with the kind of goodwill and success Marvel has tasted, it's easy for them to slack off and churn out a perfectly acceptable yet formulaic product, and while you'd fear that to be the case with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it really isn't, and the movie earns the costumes it is about to add to your wardrobe in time for Halloween.
So how does Marvel do it again?
We break it down for you.

1. It doubles down on everything you love about the first one...

Such cool, much wow.

If there's anything you can be sure about a Marvel sequel, it is that it will indulge in excesses, but all the right kinds.
You loved quips the last time around? Here's three times more!
You loved last movie's action sequences? Here's a bigger and more explosive version of it!
You loved the costumes in the last film? We've made them even more colorful and awesome this time around!
In that regard, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is no different, and it will serve you enough familiar treats to successfully recreate the warm fuzzy feeling you got from the adventures of these costumed misfits the last time around. Of course, the superhero genre has evolved beyond that in the last couple of months, and just more of the same costumed shenanigans wouldn't cut it anymore, so Marvel does enough to make it worthwhile, as the next point illustrates.

2. ...but it also adds enough to keep things fresh.

Ego's introduction adds a nice family element to the film. Plus Kurt Russel.

With the self-parody of The LEGO Batman Movie and the costume eschewing soberness of Logan, this year has seen some tremendous forward strides in the superhero genre of films, and apparently Marvel had the prescience to know the superhero genre will change the way it has because it imbibes Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 with enough of the characteristics that made the aforementioned films great that it rises above your typical costumed brawler.
The film aims for some real narrative depth in terms of the themes it tries to approach. Acceptance, family, and parenting are all heavy topics, and the film incorporates them deftly enough to make watching the film an emotional enough experience that you'll be wiping the tears off of your costume's sleeve by the time it ends.
And when you combine a strong emotional core with the existing framework via an auteur like James Gunn's idiosyncrasies, you have a winner.

Not to forget the wonderful arc that Yondu goes through over the course of the film.

3. The film puts a welcome emphasis on its characters

Baby Groot is all the happiness in the world. Expect a ton of Baby Groot costumes this Halloween.

Do you remember why as soon as you exited the theater after your Guardians of the Galaxy screening, you immediately went ahead and bought that Guardians of the Galaxy costume that sits so proudly in your wardrobe?
Not just because it was a cool costume, no.
You bought it because the character wearing that costume was a cool and likable character.
While most filmmakers would be content to simply offer the same characters once again with a new costume, not James Gunn.
Instead, he splits up his characters like The Empire Strikes Back, and traces a very clear and believable arc for them.
Yondu, Rocket and the ever so adorable Baby Groot are on their journey where Rocket and Yondu bond over their shortcomings and insecurities, while Gamora has her own issues to work through with her sister Nebula, all while Drax learns to bond with Mantis as Star-Lord learns about his origin and heritage from his father, Ego.
And because all actors involved are so mind-bogglingly talented and likable, they sell everything with utmost conviction.
And that's really everything, because as I've said before - the coolest of costumes could end up meaning nothing if the person who wears the costume isn't likable and well developed.
The film makes different characters relatable to different people, and it's definitely its biggest strength, even if the laser focus on character development results in a somewhat thin plot.

4. The film is a visual feast

Oh, the joy of punchy eye-searing color!

Marvel has come under a lot of fire lately for their films adopting a very muted and dull color palette (why else do you think the costumes in Captain America: Civil War don't pop the way they should?), and the studio clearly seems to have paid attention to the criticism because Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is probably the most colorful a superhero film has ever been.
From the blue hue on Yondu and Nebula to the green on Gamora, the colors are eye-searingly bright and make for a wonderful theater experience, because they allow the costumes to finally pop and sparkle as their palette would have you believe. Even aside from color grading, the film employs a lot of clever visual ploys throughout its story that keep it visually interesting and reward you for taking the time out to see it, especially if it's in 3D and in IMAX.

5. The soundtrack is even better this time around

I didn't think it was possible, but God, did they outdo themselves in the soundtrack department.

If there's something Marvel gets more flak for than their color grading, it's their utterly forgettable and perfunctory score. When Guardians of the Galaxy brought its unique retro soundtrack to the table in 2014, it was a breath of fresh air for it was the first time since Iron Man's rock heavy soundtrack that a Marvel film had a decent score.
James Gunn and co. surprisingly enough managed to exceed the exceptionally high expectations that the first film's soundtrack put on the filmmakers, because this film has music that you just can't resist, whether it is Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra that graces the opening credits, Fleetwood Mac's evergreen The Chain (my new favorite to get dressed up in a funky costume and walk in slow motion to), Cat Stevens' moving Father and Son, Looking Glass's Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) or the trio of Cheap Trick's Surrender, Parliament's Flashlight and David Hasselhoff's original track Guardians Inferno that play through the credits.

Of course, the film isn't perfect. Despite is numerous merits, the film stumbles here and there due to its choppy first act, a padded story and some villain problems, but the rest of the film is so charming with its emotional appeal, thumping music, wonderful use of color and of course, stylish costumes that you can't resist loving it anyway.
And love is all that matters in the end.
Because who ever bought a superhero costume to appease the logic Gods anyway?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 costumes now available on Wonder Costumes.