Dir: James
Gunn
Starring:
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
Plot: After discovering a mysterious
orb in another part of the galaxy, Peter Quill from Earth, is now the main
target of a manhunt led by a genocidal maniac Ronan The Accuser. Being hunted
across the galaxy Quill gets lumped together with a group of misfits that need
to learn how to get along before they can become the "Guardians of the
Galaxy". (credits to imdb.com – Jonathan Harrison)
(Minor spoilers ahead)
“The
truth and nothing but the truth”: Those who know me know that I am
quite critical when it comes to the superhero movies. The oversaturation of the
genre and the basic frameworks used over and over again made sure that a
Hollywood comic adaption is nothing more than a commodity that carry a hefty
premium for the studios that produce them.
After being blown away by Nolan’s
Dark Knight trilogy, impressed by Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and disappointed by
the overrated “The Avengers” (2012) (yes, I’m part of the minority that wasn’t
impressed by the movie), I was done with the whole Superhero thing and I would
never watch another entry. Until peer pressure forced to halt my embargo and
drag myself to the movies to watch “Guardians of the Galaxy” (honestly, my Facebook
feed has the same amount of ALS Ice Bucket challenge videos as it does Groot
related references).
So after two hours in the movie
theatre I came to the conclusion that the latest Marvel entry is one of the
most original superhero movie that achieves that status by stealing from every
other sci-fi/superhero/comic book movie: you have the ships and attack strategy
of “The Avengers” and “Independence Day” (1996), a killer rock based soundtrack
like “Heavy Metal” (1981), Ron Pearlman’s character from “Pacific Rim” (2013),
Zoe Saldana [#greenisthenewblue] from Avatar (2009), the flashback sequence
that helps the hero when he needs it the most from “Signs” (2002)…The list is
endless.
And on top of it all you have a
conservative plot that never dares to be different from anything you have seen
in the screen, a PG-13 friendly approach, a tearjerker and Vin Diesel in a role
that finally explored his full potential as an actor by giving him the most
complex character he’ll ever voice or play on screen.
Still, after noticing all of this
I have to say, “Guardians of the Galaxy” was a pleasant surprise - a movie that
delivers what it proposes to deliver: good fun. It skips on the lengthy
introduction of Peter Quill (sorry…Star Lord), bets on a simple plot that works
a galaxy travelogue and that welcomes every single character (including
soon-to-be-Academy-Award-Nominee-Vin Diesel as the tree of a few words, Groot, and
a racoon that channels a moderate Joe Pesci voiced by Bradley Cooper) without
the viewer ever getting the a specific sequence or interaction was forced and
invest a feelgood environment in which the story unfolds, resorting frequently
to non-sequitur comics reliefs that give “not taking itself too seriously” a
new meaning.
Also worth mentioning is the
killer soundtrack, that encompasses the likes of Jackson 5, The Raspberries,
Marvin Gaye and The Runaways. The album currently occupies the first in position
in the US Billboard, which only goes to show that there’s still some good music
taste going around ( a position that hopefully will be soon occupied by Nicki
Minaj’s latest album that includes the single “Anaconda”. A masterpiece).
A last positive comment: I stayed
for the post-credit scene that usually disappoints to be presented with none
other than Howard, the Duck. A 30 second glimpse of a CGI Howard that is
infinitely better than the 2 hours of the George Lucas backed crap-fest that is
“Howard, The Duck” (1986).
Summing up, the final feedback
coming from a comic book illiterate that didn’t particularly liked “The
Avengers” and who is not holding his breath for a sequel, “The Avengers II: Age
of Ultron” (2015) or even “Batman vs. Superman” (2016) is a good one. A
mainstream entry that is enjoyable and unpretentious. The best Summer movie of
the year. If you are considering whether or not to watch this in big screen, my
advice is…well, I think the Raspberries put it better than me:
Bottom-Line: 7/10
But of course this is my opinion.
I could be wrong
