Review
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ effectively mixes together humor, action, drama
September 18, 2014
With a new start to the school year, so started a new superhero group for Marvel Studios to introduce to theater goers everywhere, as “Guardians of the Galaxy” wins out as one of the most entertaining Marvel films yet.
For galactic thief Peter Quill, you cannot ask for a lot out of the galaxy, other than for someone to call you Star-Lord once; the whole galaxy just is not kind. But it does have a lot riding on Quill himself. After finding an odd orb in an ancient ruin, Quill is now being hunted by a galactic overlord, his former pirate boss and a mad titan. He will have to ally himself with an assassin, a madman, a walking tree with a speech impediment and a raccoon, all to find out what this orb is and why it may destroy all life as we know it.
These misfits will journey through strange places and fight many villains, all to protect a galaxy that has been largely indifferent to all of them. In the end, though, they might find that there truly are people out there to call on them to be the guardians of the galaxy when all seems dire and lost.
“Guardians of the Galaxy” fascinated me. Could Marvel Studios really make a new franchise to be excited about with a cast of characters like this in such an alien land? Short answer: oh yes they can. All my hopes had been fulfilled as this is one great summer blockbuster. “Guardians of the Galaxy” is very much like past Marvel Films; great acting and direction are expected. However, “Guardians of the Galaxy” feels like a breath of fresh air, and I found some reasons for this.
The setting of the film alone was something new: outer space. Marvel had not really set a movie there yet, and they deliver very well here creating an original-feeling universe for the characters to traverse. Grimy, dank planets and prosperous, pristine planets are rendered beautifully and directed with a fine hand, imbedding each set in the movie right into your head.
Humor-wise, “Guardians of the Galaxy” brings even more than most of its predecessors. I think that with a premise as ridiculous as this, director James Gunn felt more humor should be lent to the script. The overall tone of the movie is about 50% humor and 50% seriousness, and this blend feels just right. No joke feels out of place and the movie knows just where to slow down and take things seriously for a moment, resulting in some pretty gripping and awesome moments in the film.
The actors carry the jokes well, but the characters even more so. Chris Pratt as Peter Quill is entertaining and heartwarming as he gives a performance that is fun, childish, but overall dutiful. Let us not forget the other excellent performances of our cast, though, such as Zoe Saldana as the assassin Gamora, Dave Bautista playing the humorously crazy psychopath Drax, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, the raccoon with a heart of venom, and Vin Diesel playing the sweet, yet brutish, Groot. It is a cast that many had little faith in and I am so happy to say it worked out in the end.
Finally, the music alone is something worth talking about, given that it charted the billboards during the film’s run. It is a generous mix of 70s and 80s music from artists like Blue Swede, The Jackson 5, and Redbone. Though familiar, the music does serve a general purpose to the character who loves the classics, Peter Quill, and it certainly gives Guardians of the Galaxy its own identity.
With all it has going for it, there is not much about Guardians of the Galaxy that is not straight-up enjoyable and entertaining, making it a film that is definitely worth watching for comic book fans and general movie-goers alike. From its humor to its characters, Guardians of the Galaxy is another Marvel Studios hit that
Ryan Funes is a lover of all things movie, TV, video games and stories and wants to become a television writer someday. In his spare time he enjoys hanging with friends, tapping into his imagination, and watching cartoons of all kinds.