Guardians of the Galaxy

Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper

Directed by James Gunn

IMDB Rating: 8.3

A colourful, modern-retro action-comedy starring Marvel’s latest group of rag-tag superheroes creates a fun and successful twist on the superhero genre.

After stealing a mysterious orb, human Peter Quill (Pratt) is the target of a manhunt led by the super villain Ronan the Accuser. He is also chased by other people for other reasons including Gamora (Saldana) and double-act Groot and Rocket (Diesel and Cooper). After they all get arrested, they work together – along with inmate Drax (Bautista) – to break out of prison and sell the orb for a potentially huge profit, while trying to avoid Ronan’s wrath.

This film in some ways feels like a modern day Star Wars, with plenty of flying ships and inter-planetary travel. It’s also really refreshing to see a superhero movie where the heroes don’t take themselves too seriously! Think of Marvel’s The Avengers, a bunch of mis-fit superheroes tasked with saving the world – the same as in this. However, that film features a lot of moping around, and people cracking under the responsibility of it all – whereas this film features a retro mix-tape and a racoon flying an office. That’s the difference, this film is a lot lighter and easier to enjoy. Maybe it’s less epic because the characters don’t have as much of a reputation (yet!), but it’s a lot more fun and light-hearted.

Chris Pratt gives a solid performance as the lead Peter Quill, but the show is stolen by the Rocket and Groot double act. Less for the acting as it’s only voiceovers by Cooper and Diesel, more for the way they act and how they not only bounce off one another but how they react to everyone else. Also, their scene near the end (trying to not give anything away!) was one of the most emotional scenes I had seen in a Marvel movie in a long time!

James Gunn has made a very pretty movie. The scenes are very colourful and draw you into their world. The action shots are solid – the fight in the city at the beginning between the four main characters is a particular highlight – and the retro music gives it all a chilled out feel.

Guardians of the Galaxy brings fresh ideas to a somewhat saturated superhero genre, and was deservedly one of the unexpected summer blockbusters of the year! Much hype will surround the expected sequel, expected 2017. This film is perfectly summed up with the very last scene – baby Groot dancing to ABC by the Jackson 5 while Drax sharpens his sword. Fun and action mixed together in a near perfect balance.

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