Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, (voices of) Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker
Guardians Of The Galaxy represents the lesser known members of the Marvel universe (lesser known to me anyway), however, the film made about them isn't too bad. The action scenes generally didn't do much for me. They seem perfunctory, with characters firing giant bazookas and killing of massive amounts of nameless, faceless extras. We have seen them plenty and there is nothing to differentiate the Guardians battles with any of the others. The characters, however, are unique, with quirky personalities and fun dialogue. They nearly elevate the film all by themselves. Nearly.
The guardians in question include a cocky intergalactic thief named Peter Quill aka Star Lord (Pratt), a green woman named Gamora (Saldana) whose adoptive father is an evil ruler named Ronin with designs on destroying a planet, a hulking monster (Bautista) who eyes revenge on Ronin, and then there are Groot, a creature that resembles a walking tree and Rocket (Cooper), a wise guy who is part raccoon and part other animal. Groot and Rocket get laughs with their byplay. All Groot is capable of saying is "I Am Groot," and Rocket is somehow able to interpret that statement to mean any number of things. This reminds me of Chewbacca and Han Solo, with Solo forever interpreting Chewbacca's loud, indistinguishable groans as something meaningful.
The five come together after all are imprisoned for attempting to steal or steal away a small orb which, if put in the wrong hands, would cause the destruction of any planet it comes in contact with. Drax is already in prison, but agrees to join the others to destroy Ronin, who apparently is the guy who wants the orb and should never, ever be allowed to possess it. The five escape prison, which reminded me all too much of the dingy facility in Escape Plan, and go on a mission to keep the orb away from Ronin and save the galaxy at the same time.
The characters are given their own special touches. Star Lord likes to play 70s soft rock on his walkman while robbing things. Drax is awfully literate for a brute. Rocket is a little creature who packs a big wallop and has a heart after all, especially when it comes to his friend Groot. Groot is pretty sensitive too for a tree. Gamora is the guardian with the least personality. Her function is to passionately inform the rest of the guys what needs to be done next and be a standard love interest for Star Lord.
Guardians of the Galaxy is low rent Star Wars and somewhat fun. Star Wars became a classic because it elevated its standard storyline with emotion and depth. Guardians doesn't approach that, but I would like to see these characters in a movie with a more significant plot.
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