No raccoons or tree creatures were hurt during the filming of this movie.
Now that we’ve got that important fact out of the way, let me first start off by saying that a month off has no excuse. However, it’s been a whole damn month and I feel bad.
No overweight bloggers felt bad during the writing of this entry for not blogging for a month.
Epic stances: Engage.
Let me start by saying that I couldn’t believe the guy behind Tromeo and Juliet had the ability to direct a good movie (and I liked Slither as well, just wanted to reference a bad film.) James Gunn had quite a tall order putting together a screenplay for what is admittedly one of the lesser known Marvel properties out there. Now before someone gets their nerd panties in an uproar, it’s the truth, I only knew about Rocket Raccoon before this movie because I like animals more than humans.
For this reason GoTG is a risky investment on Marvel Studio’s part, largely because it’s hard to believe that enough people know about the property to begin with. This seems like it should be a hurdle but ultimately it isn’t; while some elements seem a tad rushed, there are too many redeeming factors that will keep your attention throughout. The film has performed extremely well out the gate and it will already have a sequel on July 28th, 2017.
You can kinda see the Raccoon at the bottom there…
GoTG revolves around an ensemble cast, anchored by Chris Pratt of Parks and Rec fame. His acting chops seem relatively untested, but after movies like Moneyball and Zero Dark Thirty, Pratt settles in to a role that his television persona of Andy Dwyer would be proud of. Pratt plays the sarcastic Peter Quill (or ‘Starlord’… that he prefers) who after being’alien’ abducted as a child has turned into an inter-galactic treasure hunter. The opening sequence of the film begins shortly after the death of his terminally ill mother, and we are tossed right into action not long after that.
One of the biggest distinguishing features of this film (and every preview) is the soundtrack. Tyler Bates comprised the film’s original score, but a majority of the film sampled material from the 1970’s and 80’s. Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling” was mixed into the original trailer for the movie, and helps cut through some of the heavy-handed action that Superhero movies are known for.
The mix-tape was given to Quill by his mother
There are hundreds of synopses out there however so I’ll spare you the details on things you could easily find on Wikipedia. GoTG is a strong film because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. My parting thoughts on the film revolved around how much fun the experience was. Guardians features well placed humor that doesn’t feel forced and remains consistent even as the plot thickens. One of the consistent humor devices involves Quill’s usage of metaphors, which are perceived by his alien companions literally. These jokes are very well done and catch you by surprise as they’re first used, so pay close attention, the laughs are going to be there.
This comes as a major deviation from most Marvel movies, while humor is used in almost every property so far, the sarcastic and witty presentation of GoTG is unique only to itself. Rocket Raccoon and Groot (voice acted by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel respectively) are friends/mercenaries and are the major comedy relief of this movie. Groot is a humanoid-tree-creature that only says three words (and I’ve already given you one of them) and Rocket seems to understand what his friend says despite simple fluctuations in the limited vocabulary. Rocket is a genetically altered raccoon, who is hyper-violent and extremely talented with electronics.
Despite only saying those three words, Groot is a scene stealer with his Raccoon companion
Cooper’s voice acting actually delivers a lot better than I gave it credit for. Going into the film I didn’t know what to expect out of it, but he gives a lot of depth to the character. Raccoons are supposed to be cute, and the CGI model of Rocket definitely captures that. The character itself though dominates the screen and while a talking raccoon is a stretch for a lot of people, after the first 5 minutes you’ll never question it again.
The remainder of the main cast is rounded out by the talented Zoe Saldana (as Gamora) and Dave Bautista (as Drax) of WWE fame. Saldana is a solid casting choice and has been consistent throughout her acting career. In that sense you know what you’re going to get from her, she’s been well tested in blockbusters like Star Trek and Avatar, and her abilities are put on display here.
Bautista however, is a newcomer to acting, and his ability will surprise many movie-goers. Despite not having many credits to his name, Bautista really catches your attention (and not just because of his crazy tattoo job). He rounds out the main cast of the movie, and there’s a pretty decent amount of chemistry among them despite almost half of them being entirely CGI.
I’d be angry too if I had no nipples…maybe
While the cast is a pleasant surprise for this film, the villains are pretty cut and dry. Lee Pace depicts Ronan, a genocidal alien tasked with finding ‘the Orb,’ a relic he’s been requested to find for the inter-galactic warlord Thanos. Thanos of course having been introduced in the end-credits scene of The Avengers and is briefly portrayed (albeit in a heavy dose of CGI) by Josh Brolin. Unfortunately super villains however don’t really carry much depth at all other than to carry out fairly simple themes. This isn’t necessarily the fault of Pace, who does everything he can with the role; but you don’t see really any depth to his character.
It’s one of the few shortfalls of this film, as the “bad guys” really aren’t shown being bad all that often. It’s a by-product of trying to balance an ensemble cast as the majority of the time is spent ensuring that enough time is spent on each of the 5 main characters. The friendship that emerges out of their shared struggle does feel rushed because of this, and it wouldn’t be noticeable if it weren’t for examples like The Avengers. A film that managed to get enough character development in for well over a dozen separate elements happening at once.
This element is clearly present in the fact that the film is rounded out by acting talent like Glenn Close and John C. Reilly. Their roles are so minute and insignificant that it’s hard to believe they’re even billed in this film. It’s an issue that you would hope is addressed in the next entry into this series.
But don’t worry… there’s plenty of sweet action to help you forget the plot advancement…
All told however, Guardians maintains a level of heart and humor that is consistent throughout. It’s packed full of just as many smiles as it has shell casings, and is well worth the early fan and critical acclaim it has earned. It will be a homerun for Marvel in the end, because it overcame the difficult task of trying to introduce a property that’s obscure even for even consistent nerds out there. As far as comic-based movies go this one is a winner, and is hopefully a sign of things to come. Superhero films tend to get too caught up in trying to take themselves seriously, and this is a good step back to bring a whimsical feel back to a universe that was drifting that way.
FINAL RATING: 4.0/5.0
Guardians of the Galaxy may not perfect, but it still delivers. While the pacing might feel uneven at times, it makes up for this in a variety of other ways. There’s enough excitement in this film for anyone to appreciate, and its already announced sequel definitely has a high bar to match.
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