MCU: 12 Things You Learn Rewatching Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
3. The Family Theme Feels Incredibly Forced
This may not be a popular opinion, but a year removed from the movie's release, the central family theme actually feels pretty damn forced.
From Peter and Drax both riffing about how the Guardians are a "family", to Yondu being transformed from a reprobate child abuser to a loveable anti-hero, it all feels a little over-sentimental and, worse still, thoroughly unearned.
Perhaps it's because Hollywood blockbusters in general hammer home the trite family fluff so much that it's easy to view it under a cynical lens, but here the constant harping on about the importance of family makes it feel derisively similar to a Fast and the Furious sequel at times.
Yondu's sacrificial death is affecting, sure, but the sentiment that he's Peter's "daddy" and the overall redemption arc of his character feels incredibly rushed. It wasn't easy to admit that a year ago when we were all busy wiping tears away, but today? It's extremely manipulative.