The plot of Guardians of the Galaxy follows Peter Quill aka Star Lord (Chris Pratt) who when we first meet him is found attempting to steal a sphere like artifact, but is interrupted by Korath (Djimon Hounsou) and his army of soliders. Quill manages to escape, but a bounty is soon placed on his head after Yondu (Michael Rooker) realizes Quill has stolen from him and his army of space pirates. Along Quill's runaway, he crosses paths with a female green alien, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), a wise-cracking talking raccoon, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Rocket's right hand man who is also a talking tree, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel). Soon the four of them are captured and sent to the Nova Corps, where they also meet Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautisa), a ruthless warrior clearly out for personal revenge. Eventually, this band of five misfits decide to team up and attempt to break out of the Nova Corps prison in order to stop Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) who let's just say has some not so good plans for the Galaxy.
One of the biggest strengths within Guardians of the Galaxy is without a doubt the fresh and energetic direction from director, James Gunn. I'll be the first to admit that this was actually the first feature film that I've seen from Mr. Gunn (unless you count the one segment he directed in the atrocity known as Movie 43) so I didn't know exactly what he would bring to the tables especially in terms of tone and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any kind of skepticism being aware of the fact that this is the first film he's helmed with a budget this big. But, right from the opening sequence of this picture, any doubts or concerns I might've had were completely thrown out the window. Gunn along with his really terrific and witty script (which he co-wrote with Nicole Perlman) perfectly creates a consistent and very refreshing tone that comes off as very unique and very different from any other Marvel we've seen before which I think ends up working to this film's advantage. The film blends the sc-fi, and comedy genres together flawlessly, while also having this very classic 70s space opera feel to it which felt very much in the realm of the original Star Wars movies. I'd go as far as to say that this movie I think came the closest to capturing the magic, and feel of those original Star Wars movies more so than perhaps any other movie I've seen before (and yes more so than those prequels). The film is also just very beautifully shot, this is absolutely one of Marvel's best directed movies to date, and I think just from a visual technical standpoint, it is probably the most impressive feature the studio has delivered. There were countless times throughout this movie where my jaw practically dropped just due to how visually impressive and stunning so many sequences in this movie were. The action sequences are also very well done, very exhilarating and entertaining to watch.
Ultimately though as fantastic as Gunn's direction behind this movie is, the real reason why this movie works as well as it does lies in the performances as well as the genuine chemistry between the cast and in particular the characters. When you really look at this group of characters, this movie in the wrong hands of the wrong people could've gone so horribly wrong if they were not executed properly considering one of your main characters is a talking animal and another one is a talking tree. We've seen other movies in the past try to make similar characters (Rocket Raccoon) work, and most of the time it fails particularly talking animals. But, thankfully that was not the case with Guardians of the Galaxy, because Rocket Raccoon was not only probably my favorite character in the entire movie, but probably also one of my favorite characters from any movie I've seen this entire year. And what helps is not only is he a really hilarious and fun character to watch, but midway throughout this movie you actually really start to feel for him and actually care for this character especially once you start to learn more about him which was probably the biggest surprise that I took from this movie. It also doesn't hurt that Bradley Cooper could not have been more perfectly cast to voice this character, and he brings this amount of energy to the role where even with just hearing his voice you can clearly tell how much fun he was having voicing this character while also stealing the majority of his scenes. Vin Diesel, on the other hand had maybe the easiest line readings that any actor has ever had for a major role considering his character, Groot is limited to a certain line of dialogue that I won't give away, but the fact that I was able to care and sympathize as much as I did for a tree shows how good of a job Diesel as well as the screenwriters did in creating this rather fascinating character. Zoe Saldana is so terrific, sexy, feisty, and as usual a bad-ass screen presence here as Gamora, while also probably becoming now the first actress to play a blue colored alien and a green colored alien (and yet somehow manages to look perhaps even more attractive in doing so). Major props also to wrestler turned actor, Dave Bautisa who is a pleasant surprise in his funny and likable turn as Drax. But, really the true highlight here is Chris Pratt who is fantastic and wonderfully likable as our main protagonist, Peter Quill, while also bringing a huge amount of much needed charisma and screen presence for a role like this. Pratt has always been a underrated talent, delivering some great supporting performances in movies like Moneyball, Zero Dark Thirty, and even last year's Delivery Man, and in Guardians he really proves that he has the ability to become one of Hollywood's next big leading man. This is also easily the most I've ever laughed during a Marvel movie, because while Marvel has always had a nice use of comedy in their movies, it has never been to the extent it is used in this film to the point where the best genre to label this movie would probably be comedy as oppose to sc-fi. And thankfully the comedy in this movie really works at least 98% of the time, much thanks to the perfect comedic timing of its cast members and sharp script. There are many other actors that pop up throughout the movie in really fun supporting roles such as Michael Rooker, Benicio del Toro, Glenn Close, and John C. Reilly. If I had one real issue within the cast it would be that Lee Pace felt a bit wasted as the villain, Ronan the Accuser. I think Pace definitely does a more than serviceable job in the role, but I felt his character really lacked the proper development needed to make him a truly menacing screen presence.
Very few nit-picks aside though, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a real delightful treat not just to Marvel films fans, but just regular movie going audience and film fans in general. It delivers pretty much everything a fan would want from the memorable characters, the witty humor, spectacular action sequences as well as stunning special effects, and just all around great performances, while also just being a really great time at the movies, because I'd go as far as to while this isn't really my favorite movie of the year, it might very well be the most fun I've had watching a movie so far this year. I've already seen it twice which probably says enough. I also can not forget to mention how amazing the soundtrack and choice of music in this film is which actually fits flawlessly within the tone this movie is going for. Right after this movie finished, I already wanted to run out, buy the soundtrack, and just sit in my bedroom listening to it all day which is not something I thought I'd ever say from a Marvel production. Anyway, simply put this is one of Marvel's best efforts to date that not only leaves me excited for their next installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which will be The Avengers 2 on May 1st, 2015), but also more importantly more from the Guardians of the Galaxy who are already set to return in the summer of 2017.
Final Rating: A
