I Am Groot Season 2

Marvel

Fun loving Baby Groot is back for five more crazy adventures in Season 2 of I Am Groot. I loved the shorts from season 1 and season two looks even wilder.

Here's the official synopsis from Marvel: 

The troublemaking twig returns to mischief in the second season of “I Am Groot.” This time, Baby Groot finds himself exploring the universe and beyond aboard the Guardians’ spaceships, coming face-to-face—or nose-to-nose—with new and colorful creatures and environments.

I Am Groot Season 2 arrives on DisneyPlus on September 6th.

This Interactive Groot Toy Is Marvel-ous!

All images: Disney

If you're looking for an interactive toy for the Marvel fan in your life, then look no further. This interactive Groot responds to over 20 words and phrases with dance moves, movements, music, and of course, says "I am Groot!" in multiple ways. 

For even more Guardians of the Galaxy fun, check out the Bluetooth speaker inspired by the one Groot plugs in at the beginning of Vol. 2. 

Both Groot and the speaker are available at shopDisney.com, Disney stores, and select Disney Parks worldwide.

Star-Lord and Baby Groot Meet and Greet

Did you know that you can meet Star-Lord and Baby Groot at Disney's Hollywood Studios? They are currently meeting guests in a Guardians of the Galaxy themed area inside One Man's Dream. I had the chance to meet them recently and I loved it.

Baby Groot is so cute! He dances and says "I am Groot!" It's too fun. Star-Lord is very chatty and charismatic. And he loved my Groot Dorbz from Funko, although he really hoped his Dorbz didn't have such a big head. Make sure to stop in and meet Star-Lord and Baby Groot on your next visit to Hollywood Studios.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 POPVinyl

Funko has created the cutest set of POPVinyl featuring characters from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. There are eight characters, with muliple variants of Star-Lord, Rocket, and Groot. The crew of the Milano are well represented in these POPVinyl.

Star-Lord has both an unmasked and 2 masked versions.

Limited Edition Chase Figure

The variant below is only available at Toys R Us.

Gamora has a fun new look.

The new Drax is a bit fiercer.

There are two versions of Rocket Raccoon.

One with a jet pack, and a Game Stop exclusive with no jet pack.

There are four different Baby Groot figures, including a 10 inch happy Groot available exclusively from Target.

A Groot with patch is available exclusively from Hot Topic.

An angry Groot in a jumpsuit is available exclusively from Walmart.

Nebula is once again represented in the new collection.

Finally, there are two new characters: Mantis and Taserface. Mantis is an empathy who will help the Guardians.

Taserface is the new villain.

The new collection looks great. The toys will arrive in stores in February. Which ones will you add to your collection?

I Am Groot Is Hilarious

Marvel

The five I Am Groot shorts have arrived on DisneyPlus and they are hilarious! I especially like the Groot dance off and the fashion show.

So cute!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Review

Images courtesy of Disney & Marvel

I finally had the chance to see Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2 last week. I really enjoyed it. It was funny, and sad, and heartwarming, and all about family. In all, it was the perfect sequel. Caution: Spoilers Ahead!

The movie starts with the Guardians struggling to settle into their new life as heroes. (And a hilarious fight scene that heavily features a dancing Baby Groot.) Unfortunately, it seems like they are constantly bickering. When Rocket steals some batteries and offends the High Priestess of the Sovereign, Ayesha, the Guardians are forced to flee. The golden Sovereign chase them in drone ships (keep an eye out for Ben Browder from Farscape as the Sovereign Admiral!), but are stopped by someone unexpected.

Gamora, "A little one-inch man saved us?"
Rocket, "Well, if he got closer, I'm sure he'd be much larger."

The "little one-inch man" turns out to be Ego, a planet as well as a man, and also Peter Quill's father. He has been searching for Peter since he hired Yondu to deliver him years before. Peter is rather reluctant to warm up to, and yet completely in awe of, his father. And he has a million questions about Ego's past and his relationship with Meredith Quill, Peter's mother.

In another part of the galaxy, Ayesha has hired Yondu and the Ravagers to track down the Guardians and destroy them. When they find Rocket, Groot, and Nebula with the crashed Milano, the Ravagers figure they'll capture them easily. They're wrong of course, and Rocket manages to attack them with several hilarious traps, before finally being stopped by Yondu. Unfortunately for Yondu, his affection for Peter causes his crew to mutiny, replacing him as captain with the ridiculously named Taserface.

With everyone searching for the Guardians, we find ourselves in familiar territory. There are epic battles, moments of ridiculous comedy, and surprisingly, some deeply sad scenes as well. I won't give away the rest, but the end was the best part of the movie. And make sure you bring the tissues; I cried for most of the last twenty minutes.

The music in the film was fantastic. Every song just worked with the scene and added a fabulous sense of nostalgia for those of us of a certain age. And the choice of Cat Stevens "Father and Son" for the last big scene was absolutely perfect, although it almost made it sadder.

Like with previous Marvel films, make sure to stay all the way until the end of the credits. I've never seen so many extra scenes in my life! (I believe there were five in total.) Besides, you wouldn't want to miss the second Stan Lee cameo in the movie. It's even funnier than the first one, "That time I was the FedEx guy." (I love the reference to his appearance in Captain America: Civil War.)

In the end, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 was about family, both the family you're born into and the one you choose for yourself. As Peter Quill said, "Sometimes, that thing you're searching for your whole life, is right there by your side all along, and you don't even know it." The Guardians are definitely a family, a bit dysfunctional perhaps, but a family nonetheless. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Posters

All images: Marvel

It's been a big week for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 posters. First, director James Gunn released a poster featuring the whole cast as well as the fact that the movie will be bigger and better in IMAX.

Then came the poster-like covers of Empire magazine, which should be available on newsstands now. I especially liked this Groot cover which was a subscriber exclusive.

Finally, Gunn and several of the actors released character posters on various social media. The first features Star-Lord, looking dashing, as usual.

Gamora looks angry and ready for anything.

Rocket looks ready to take on the universe, 

and hopefully save it in the process.

Baby Groot is absolutely adorable, 

and probably a bit mischievous. 

Drax appears to be preparing for war.

Nebula seems to be a bit annoyed

 with her new position with the Guardians. 

Yondu has also joined the Guardians. 

It will be interesting to see how he fits in.

Newcomer Mantis seems very innocent, 

having never encountered other humanoids before.

Ayesha, a genetically engineered being,

 is as beautiful as she is deadly.

The final poster features Kurt Russell as Star-Lord's dad, Ego, the Living Planet. This is a departure from the comics, and the part was written specifically for Russell, at Chris Pratt's suggestion. When not in humanoid form, Ego is one of the biggest visual effects of all time. 

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 arrives in theaters on May 5.

This I Am Groot Trailer Is Adorable

Marvel

Marvel's I Am Groot looks adorably hilarious. I love the sprouty fashion show.

I Am Groot arrives on DisneyPlus on August 10.

I Am Groot

Marvel

Marvel has a crazy new series coming to DisneyPlus on August 10. The series of original shorts will star the always loveable baby Groot in all new adventures as he grows up and gets into trouble. I Am Groot is bound to be hilarious!

Funko Has a Ton of New Pops for Avengers: Infinity War

Funko

Funko has created quite the collection of POPVinyls, Mystery Minis, and Dorbz for Avengers: Infinity War. There are quite a few exclusives, too. And they should start arriving in stores tomorrow.

The Mystery Minis include a core group of nine figures that will be available everywhere and twelve exclusives. The regular figures include: The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Spider, Thor, Thanos, Hulkbuster, Black Panther, Ebony Maw, and Gamora. The first three exclusives are: an Outrider, Doctor Strange, and Full Obsidian. Hot Topic's exclusives include: the Winter Soldier, Proxima Midnight, and Captain America. At Wal-Mart, the exclusive figures are Corvus Glaive, Falcon, and Iron Man. Finally, the Target exclusives: Teen Groot, Black Widow, and Vision.

Funko

The POPVinyl look pretty amazing. They include Thor, Black Widow, Corvus Glaive, Iron Spider, a lightning-filled, glow-in-the-dark Thor exclusive to Asia, Captain America, teen Groot, and Proxima Midnight. Six-inch exclusives include Thanos at Target, and  Hulkbuster.

Funko

Ebony Maw, a standard size Thanos, and Iron Man will be available everywhere, but there are even more exclusives: Groot at Toys"R"Us, Iron Spider unmasked at BoxLunch, Iron Man unmasked at FYE, Vision at Hot Topic, another 6 inch Thanos at Wal-mart, and Cull Obsidian at Walgreens. 

Funko

Last, but not least, are a bunch of truly adorable Dorbz, and a few POP! keychains. The Dorbz include: Iron Spider, Iron Man, Cull Obsidian, Thanos, Corvus Glaive, Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, and Thor. The keychains include: Iron Spider, Iron Man, Thanos, and Hulkbuster.

If previous releases are any indication, this may only be wave one of Avengers: Infinity War characters. After all, there are a lot of characters that aren't represented in this collection.

🎶 I Am Groot 🎶

Little Groot is ready to rock out to his Green-House Mix Vol. 1. I love this new topiary at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. 

Rocket & Groot

The statues from Disney's Fab 50 Character Collection are so much fun. They were installed throughout the parks as part of Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration. I love finding them and using my MagicBand+ to hear them speak. There are characters from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel, but Rocket & Groot may be my favorite. 

Dancing Baby Groot Sipper at Hollywood Studios

I love this new Dancing Baby Groot sipper from Hollywood Studios. His arms move, so it looks like he's dancing. So adorable! The pot says "I am Groot" on one side and "Guardians of the Galaxy" on the other. The sipper cup comes filled with your choice of fountain drink for $12.75 and is available from the popcorn carts near Grauman's Chinese Theater.