Guardians Of The Galaxy - Movie Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

By refusing to follow the usual formula, filmmaker James Gunn has made Marvel's best-yet movie, a summer action-adventure that provides more cinematic fun than the rest of the year's blockbusters rolled into one. It's shamelessly entertaining, keeping the focus on sparky characters even as the action spirals into exhilarating set-pieces around them. And the best thing is that the film isn't actually about the big plot: it's about a group of people who should hate each other but instead come together as a team.

In a pre-logo sequence set in 1988 America, a young boy is kidnapped by aliens. Some 25 years later, Peter (Chris Pratt) has become an ace thief who roams the galaxy in search of cash. Curious and charming, he can get himself out of most scrapes, but when he collects a mysterious orb for a client he ends up as the target of two bounty hunters, the raccoon-like Rocket and tree-like Groot (voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel). And the villainously destructive Ronan (Lee Pace) sends his best fighter Gamora (Zoe Saldana) to get the orb for his own nefarious plan. Rounded up and thrown into prison, Peter, Gamora, Rocket and Groot stage a daring escape with the help of literal-minded muscleman Drax (Dave Bautista), then must work together to deal with this troublesome orb. So they contact Peter's mentor/nemesis Yondu (Michael Rooker) before taking on Ronan and his second-best fighter, Gamora's half-cyborg sister Nebula (Karen Gillan).

Gunn gives the film a look and tone unlike anything in the Marvel universe, with colourful ships, sassy humour and freewheeling action that propels the story and deepens the character at the same time. It also makes the most of the well-worn 1980s mixtape Peter uses as his own personal soundtrack. It's the kind of riotously thrill ride that makes us hold on for dear life, loving every twist and turn. And since it's so tightly focused on the characters, the action plot involving the orb merely adds texture around the edges. As do terrific actors like Glenn Close and John C. Reilly in small but pivotal roles.

At the centre, Pratt holds everything together with effortless charm. He's a bit of a scoundrel like Han Solo, sparking real chemistry with the enjoyably spiky Saldana. And while Bautista is hugely likeable as the meat-head Drax, the film is stolen by Cooper's fast-talking Rocket and Diesel's gorgeously animated Groot. This is also a rare blockbuster that isn't overwhelmed by its digital effects, maintaining a human scale even in the biggest action sequences and making sure that the animated characters are grounded by their personalities. Gunn also mercilessly pokes fun at over-serious blockbusters and the usual over-choreographed battles, while leaving just enough questions unanswered. So at the end, the audience is already gasping for the next adventure.

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Facts and Figures

Year: 2014

Genre: Sci fi/Fantasy

Run time: 121 mins

In Theaters: Friday 1st August 2014

Box Office USA: $331.1M

Box Office Worldwide: $768M

Budget: $170M

Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures

Production compaines: Moving Picture Company (MPC), Marvel Entertainment, LLC, Marvel Studios

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 4.5 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Fresh: 226 Rotten: 24

IMDB: 8.4 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: James Gunn

Producer: Kevin Feige

Screenwriter: James Gunn, Nicole Perlman

Starring: Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Lee Pace as Ronan, Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Djimon Hounsou as Korath, John C. Reilly as Corpsman Dey, Glenn Close as Nova Prime, Benicio del Toro as The Collector, Laura Haddock as Meredith Quill, Sean Gunn as Kraglin / On Set Rocket, Peter Serafinowicz as Denarian Seal, Gregg Henry as Grandpa, Stan Lee as Xandarian Ladies' Man, Nathan Fillion as Monstrous Inmate, Alexis Denisof as The Other, Rob Zombie as Ravager Navigator, James Gunn as Maskless Sakaaran, Tyler Bates as Ravager Pilot, Josh Brolin as Thanos, Seth Green as Howard the Duck, Mikaela Hoover as Nova Prime's Assistant, Melia Kreiling as Bereet

Also starring: John C Reilly