The Niagara Falls Review

Russell keeps on rolling

Winning streak continues with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

- BOB THOMPSON

LOS ANGELES — Call Kurt Russell the co-star king of spring at the movies.

Russell returns as part of the ensemble in action flick The Fate of

the Furious, which is currently setting box office records. He also has a pivotal role in the much-anticipate­d Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

“That’s just the way things happen sometimes,” says the 67-yearold. “When you get success, you have to take it in stride because you are only as good as your last at bat.”

He’s hardly humble, but he is an expert at putting things in perspectiv­e. After more than five decades in the film business, the former Disney child star knows a few things about the ups and downs of what he does for a living.

However, there’s no denying his enthusiasm for joining the Marvel cinematic universe with his Guardians 2 portrayal.

In the movie, he plays Ego, the once-absent father of Peter Quill (Chris Pratt.) As the Guardians involve themselves in another mission to save the universe, Quill gets familiar with his birth dad, who may or may not have Quill’s best interests in mind.

Another Hollywood icon, Sylvester Stallone, who was Russell’s Tango & Cash co-star, has a smaller part as a member of Nova Corps.

When director James Gunn asked Russell to join the Guardians’ sequel party, it made sense to both of them. His Ego could be a celestial version of his Escape from New

York’s Snake Plissken, minus the eye patch and the growl.

“You start with the fact that Ego’s a spaceman but he’s also a jackass, so that’s the broad spectrum,” says Russell. “And who’s the guy you’ve seen do that?”

Of course, bonding with Pratt was key, and almost instantane­ous, when they met on set. Although Pratt admits he first had to “geek out” as a huge fan of Russell, and his classic roles from Plissken to TV’s Elvis.

“I did that immediatel­y,” says Pratt of fawning over Russell. “And then you have to move on.”

Pre-shoot research investigat­ing the Guardians of the Galaxy world was simple enough for the newcomer. “My key was watching the first movie and paying attention to Chris,” Russell says. “I know where a lot of his Peter Quill comes from, and I figured I could bring the right baggage to my role.”

Helping, too, is the fact that Pratt and Russell have the same straightfo­rward approach to performing in front of a camera. “Chris is easygoing and loves to play in the sandbox, and that’s my thing.”

Russell’s Ego opens Guardians 2 as an earthman in his 20s cavorting with Quill’s soon-to-be mom.

The youthful Russell persona references his days as a Hollywood hunk trying to make the transition from Disney kid to young adult actor. While digital enhancemen­ts assisted that cause, Russell insists that his makeup man Dennis Liddiard provides most of the magic for his fountain-of-youth makeover.

“I thought it looked natural and very real and it didn’t have that creepy quality to it,” he says. “I love that part of the movie because it starts you off with a giggle.”

Lately, Russell’s been smiling at his good fortune. Landing the role of the secret agent in Furious 7

led to his return in the eighth, The Fate of the Furious. He’s hoping for a callback to do number nine.

Last fall, he co-starred with Mark Wahlberg in the retelling of the oil-rig disaster flick, Deepwater

Horizon. And before that he was a gruff bounty hunter in Quentin Tarantino’s western, The Hateful Eight.

All of his high-profile portrayals, including the latest in Guardians

2, have one thing in common — Russell modulates each performanc­e to suit the spirit of the movie’s intentions.

“That’s criteria No. 1,” he says. “You have to ask yourself, ‘What is this movie and what is the tone?’ You have to give the director what he needs, and then you can experiment and try to expand on that.”

Understand­ing his place in the pecking order is another constant in his career.

“Every new set I walk on,” Russell says, “I figure I have to make the team.”

 ?? MARVEL STUDIOS ?? Kurt Russell stars as Ego in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.
MARVEL STUDIOS Kurt Russell stars as Ego in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.

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