Secretly, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.” is about a super dysfunctional family

The Guardians of the Galaxy are back to save the, uh, galaxy once again. But, in the process, it sounds like they’re going to save each other, too. Though we’re going to show up to the theater expecting lots of action, adventure, and hopefully a shirtless Chris Pratt, turns out we’re going to find something that’s digging a little bit deeper. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is actually about the family dynamic between this motley crew.

Talking to CinemaBlend, director James Gunn spilled on the story arc for each character. In the conversation, he managed to reveal that everyone in Peter Quill’s Milano seems to be yearning for a place where they feel like they belong — and that what they’re looking for might be right in front of them.

In terms of father figures, both Peter and Rocket are searching for that.

"It's a story about Peter Quill, with his father, but also his abusive step-father, Yondu," Gunn explains. "I think it's a story about this poor little Rocket, who is in search of a father and in search of a somebody to give a shit, who cannot find it —  and maybe does a little bit with Michael Rooker's character, [Yondu]."

If you’re looking for a father-daughter dynamic, that’s for Drax and new character, Mantis.

"It's about Dave Bautista and Mantis together, who become on the one hand close friends, and then on the other hand she's a surrogate daughter for the daughter that was murdered."

And sister-on-sister action? Obviously that’s what’s going down between Gamora and Nebula — with maybe a little sister role-reversal, too.

"It's about Nebula's relationship with her sister, Gamora, and how that's not all that we saw in the first movie. It's a lot deeper and more complicated than that. We thought in the first movie that Gamora was the good guy, and Nebula's the bad guy, but that really isn't the whole story."

AND LIL’ BABY GROOT? He’s about to embark on the worst family road trip, ever.

"And of course Baby Groot's relationship with all of them, they are the worst parents in the entire world! Who else brings a two-year-old son into a giant battle with a giant monster? Terrible parents!"

DON’T YOU DARE PUT BABY GROOT IN HARM’S WAY, GUARDIANS. We are here to protect him at all costs, and we’re going to see to it that Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Yondu do, too.