Duck Fox

In keeping with my lazy-faire system of blogging where I apparently only do a post when a new Marvel superhero film comes out (though I don't exclude films not produced by Marvel), I've decided to jump back into things with a review of the latest Marvel blockbuster, Guardians of the Galaxy. Mild spoilers to follow, you have been warned. 

Image Credit: Marvel

When it was announced that lovable goofball Chris Pratt (on his best, most lovable, goofballish behavior as Andy Dwyer over on Parks & Recreation) would be playing Peter Quill AKA Star-Lord, leader of the fictional band of misfits called the "Guardians of the Galaxy," I had absolutely no doubt that this movie would be awesome. As a relative newcomer to the insanity that is the Marvel Universe, I was particularly excited when this film was announced because, though the property has been around for more than four decades, the current incarnation of the team was formed relatively recently in 2008. The lack of baggage makes picking up a few back issues much less terrifying than, say, trying to get into any single member of the Avengers, much less the team itself. With any luck, this could actually be Marvel movie that got my friends into the comics scene.

Unfortunately, Guardians of the Galaxy is a largely superfluous popcorn action flick that will probably end up spawning a series of vastly inferior sequels until the inevitable Avengers/Guardians team-up film. Okay, maybe that's a little blunt, but it's hard to minimize my disappointment when there was so much talent and potential here, only for it to turn into an average adventure film.

Guardians begins in flashback, with a young Peter Quill on Earth doing his best to ignore the impending loss of his mother, who lies only a room away on her deathbed. Wyatt Oleff injects a surprising amount of pathos in his singular scene as young Quill. To the film's credit, young Quill makes (or rather, doesn't make) a regretful action when facing his dying mother and the climax of the film calls back to this moment to aid in the resolution. Unable to face a world with mom, young Peter Quill runs outside into the night full of stars... And alien spaceships. One alien abduction (complete with a tractor beam and glowing lights) and twenty years later and Peter Quill is now a hot shot "ravager," who criss-crosses across the galaxy looking for artifacts and junk that he can sell to the highest bidder. The only vestige of his Earthly identity are an unopened gift from his mother and a 1980s portable tape player which inexplicably still works after twenty years and who knows how many light years.

As a character, Quill is a stereotypical goofball with just a dash of boyish charm. He's sadly pretty stereotypical, and though Pratt does a good job, he doesn't quite have the gravitas of a Robert Downey Jr. or even Chris Evans, and just ends up being another part of the ensemble more than a real leader. Then again, the ensemble is what works best about Guardians, from the moment the characters intersect, their squabbling and bickering like children, and only occasionally do they slow down to reflect on their current predicaments in a serious way. Of course, that seriousness is almost inevitably broken, usually by the breakout star and reason to return for a sequel, Rocket Raccoon. Rocket is definitely a favorite of mine from the comics, and not just because he regularly espouses phrases like "Blam! Murdered you!" Bradley Cooper (so dreamy such a great actor) and his partner in crime Vin Diesel (Groot) seem to be having the most fun and really bring their CGI characters to life. Meanwhile wrestler Dave Bautista makes Drax the Destroyer mostly more genial than terrifying, but his literal inability to understand figurative speech (as in metaphors, similes and other forms of figurative expression) earn some of the biggest laughs. Rounding out the cast is the obligatory love interest, Gamora, who is, thankfully, never really the damsel in distress. Actually in a way, Gamora is one of the most integral parts of the film and all future Marvel films, given that her father is Thanos, Marvel's "endgame" villain for the entire Universe. It's a good thing Zoe Saldana plays her with all the badassery she deserves, and honestly she was the more compelling of the two leads.

The main impetus for getting these weirdos together ends up being a powerful stone with the ability to literally destroy worlds. Before seeing the "Infinity Stone's" power in action, the group is eager to sell it to the highest bidder and split the profit between them. Things change once they find out that it's going to be sold to the murderous Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace, also dreamy a magnificent actor). Ronan is a cookie cutter villain who mostly drags the film down, and even Lee Pace can't save the character. In the end he ends up being as memorable as Malekith.... You need to look up Malekith now, don't you?

While Ronan is ostensibly Thanos' minion, he and his lovely assistant and half-sister to Gamora, Nebula (played by Karen Gillan) aren't planning to stay under his rule for long, and Ronan is eager to take out the peaceful planet that is home to the Nova Corps, leading to the obligatory "world in danger" scenario. To the film's credit, it seems to get cheesy the setup to the resolution is by having Rocket crack wise in the film's third act. But by the time the climax comes Guardians has hit all the notes you'd expect of a popcorn action flick and done nothing to differentiate itself from its predecessors. Nicole Perlman is the first female to pen a Marvel movie script, but she's a little too tacit with the characters. James Gunn's direction is proficient, but even the myriad of space battles just feel too "been there, done that" by now.

Perhaps the best part of the film is the soundtrack, with 80s pop songs diegetically filling scenes to add humor and cut the tension. Actually another pivotal point in the movie works thanks to Chris Pratt busting out into song and dance. Clearly Guardians knows what will help it stand out. But after a half a year of previews featuring "Blue Suede," the incredible soundtrack's impact was muted.

Guardians has all the hallmarks of a super mega hit franchise, and if the $100 million dollar open is any indication, it will probably make a ton of money and get twelve sequels. But we're quickly approaching the point of diminishing returns with the Marvel formula. With any luck, the next film will seek to actually delve deeper into the psyche of its hero rather than just throw some catchy music into chuckle worthy dialogue and explosions. That said, it's hardly a bad film, just depressingly average, especially after Winter Soldier. I would tepidly suggest watching it, but don't think you have to see it in theaters.

7.0/10

• Explosions! Sexual tension! Talking trees!
• Rocket Raccoon. That is all.
• The music will get you hooked on a feeling!

• You've got Marvel fatigue
• You want more for Chris Pratt and Lee Pace
• You don't need no stinkin' Groot