When the trailers first started streaming, I'm sure many folks asked, "Guardians of the Who? What?" And then there were those like me. I'm sure I'm not alone here. Somebody tell me I'm not alone here. I couldn't help being just a tad skeptical. They're making a Guardians of the Galaxy movie? Really? Um, that's weird, and, yeah, totally cool, but it's probably going to suck balls. Chris Pratt is Star-Lord? Yeah, it's going to suck balls.
But then I had to admit that first trailer was pretty damned awesome. I watched it over and over again. Then there were more trailers and more promos, and I had to wonder whether it was being overhyped and whether it could ever live up to that. It's pretty obvious, however, that Marvel Studios has found the perfect formula for a crowd-pleasing hit: lots of humor, lots of action, far-flung adventures, and lovable characters. Guardians of the Galaxy is stuffed full of all these ingredients and for good measure, they jumped up and down on the suitcase to pack in an awesome soundtrack too. It's the kind of the movie that really encourages the audience to get up and dance.
And you know what? It shouldn't even be shown in movie theaters. It should be shown in dance clubs, outside on Jumbotrons so people can get up and move when the urge strikes—and let me tell you, it will strike often while you're watching this one.
No, Guardians of the Galaxy isn't going to win any awards for being riveting drama. Much of what happens in the film feels frankly contrived. Oh, sure, the story about the death of Quill's mother is moving, and you can't help screaming inside at him to take her damned hand, dammit! Most of it is really just going through the motions, but you just can't help freaking loving it because the characters will break you down. I dare you to go into this one determined to hate any of them. Before it's over, you'll be buying all the plushies. You will, I'm telling you, you will. Had a really bad day at work? Just got fired? Go see Guardians of the Galaxy and you'll find yourself just knocking that dirt off your shoes.
Yes, it is mostly the characters that drive this one. While some of the sequences that attempt to build their personas might as well be bumper stickers, their unique personalities and interactions win you over with relative ease.
Chris Pratt is zany and absurdly charismatic as Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, the petty thief and smuggler who becomes the leader of the band of losers who earn the name Guardians of the Galaxy. Yeah, they earned it. Ronan the Accuser himself coined the title. Yeah, that scene was just a hair's width on the side of contrived too, but what the hell.
I have to admit, Zoe Saldana looks pretty good as green-skinned Gamora. You know what they say about the green ones. No, no, I don't either. I was very impressed with the effects and make-up jobs. In most films like this, the skin colors usually look like they're painted on. In this case, suspension of disbelief is well secured. Dave Bautista makes for an appropriately intimidating Drax the Destroyer, although I remember him being more of a badass in the comic books. It's unfortunate that Groot doesn't really say much, but he's a pretty incredible character nonetheless. He's like a small Treebeard with a bad side. And I found myself really liking Michael Rooker as Yondu. No, Yondu didn't look like he does in the comics, but Rooker took the role and molded it to himself. I especially enjoyed the scene at the end where he smiles knowingly as if to say, "Good one!"
I have to admit, Zoe Saldana looks pretty good as green-skinned Gamora. You know what they say about the green ones. No, no, I don't either. I was very impressed with the effects and make-up jobs. In most films like this, the skin colors usually look like they're painted on. In this case, suspension of disbelief is well secured. Dave Bautista makes for an appropriately intimidating Drax the Destroyer, although I remember him being more of a badass in the comic books. It's unfortunate that Groot doesn't really say much, but he's a pretty incredible character nonetheless. He's like a small Treebeard with a bad side. And I found myself really liking Michael Rooker as Yondu. No, Yondu didn't look like he does in the comics, but Rooker took the role and molded it to himself. I especially enjoyed the scene at the end where he smiles knowingly as if to say, "Good one!"
We have to face a pretty simple fact here, folks. Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon positively steals the show. His cynicism and sarcasm drive the best laughs. Had I not seen the credits, I never would have known that was Cooper voicing the maniacal raccoon. And, really, he's kind of the brains of the operation. He's got that techie geek air about him—knows his way around gizmos, knows his way around a gun or two ... And as contrived as his backstory is, you can't help feeling for the poor little homicidal bastard.
The plot is barely thicker than the ticket stub, but this is one of the best feel-good movies you'll ever see. A bunch of misfits come together. They were trying to kidnap, kill, rob, etc., each other, but now they're great friends and they're going to save the galaxy from some crazy bastard with a big hammer. Dammit, I really, really wanted to see Thor cross hammers with Ronan. That ... that sounds kind of dirty. But, still. Great plot? Well, yeah, been there, done that, but it is a comic book movie, after all, and that's par for the course, right?
From start to finish, Guardians of the Galaxy is an enjoyable ride that you won't want to see end. The fact that it gives us all a better look at Thanos, tying it in with that other Marvel blockbuster, is another layer sugar-coma-inducing frosting.
Watch it for the humor, watch it for the soundtrack, watch it for the wonderful characters, but just watch it. Guardians of the Galaxy is one fun thrill ride of an adventure.
The plot is barely thicker than the ticket stub, but this is one of the best feel-good movies you'll ever see. A bunch of misfits come together. They were trying to kidnap, kill, rob, etc., each other, but now they're great friends and they're going to save the galaxy from some crazy bastard with a big hammer. Dammit, I really, really wanted to see Thor cross hammers with Ronan. That ... that sounds kind of dirty. But, still. Great plot? Well, yeah, been there, done that, but it is a comic book movie, after all, and that's par for the course, right?
From start to finish, Guardians of the Galaxy is an enjoyable ride that you won't want to see end. The fact that it gives us all a better look at Thanos, tying it in with that other Marvel blockbuster, is another layer sugar-coma-inducing frosting.
Watch it for the humor, watch it for the soundtrack, watch it for the wonderful characters, but just watch it. Guardians of the Galaxy is one fun thrill ride of an adventure.
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