I anticipated this movie in a vague, pleasant sort of way. It sounded both insane and fun, and while I know by now to place my trust in Marvel, I figured it'd be an enjoyable popcorn-cruncher a decided tier below the other films in the Avengers universe. Well, color me wrong. Though Guardians of the Galaxy is very different than Marvel's other outings, it's a rip-roaring good time and every bit as well-made as its cousin films.
This time around, we're treated to a cheeky space adventure, a bit like Firefly but with more aliens, less Chinese swearing, and the role of Jayne Cobb played by a cocky raccoon with a machine gun. The outer-space stuff is more Star Wars than Thor, and the usual superpowered protagonist has been replaced by a motley collection of outlaws surprisingly poised to become heroes.
The only way to start is with the characters. Peter Quill, better known (to himself) as Star-Lord, is a human who was abducted by aliens as a child and now makes a living as a small-time fencer of acquired goods. When he picks up a small metal orb of great value and unknown function, he unwittingly becomes a target for Gamora, a cool-as-ice alien assassin: green in complexion, a walking weapon, and known to associate with local genocidal megalomaniac Ronan. As she attempts to take the orb from him, Peter and the price on his head are noticed by bounty hunters Rocket - a quick-witted, genetically- and cybernetically-enhanced raccoon - and Groot - a walking, talking (well, if we're being generous) tree-creature who is just awesome. The resulting scuffle lands them all in a spot of bother, at which point they meet Drax (the Destroyer,) a hulking figure with a vendetta against Ronan and an incurable tendency to take everything literally.
And things just get better from there. We get schemes, capers, space battles, a catchy 80s soundtrack (Peter was abducted with his portable tape player,) electrified-sword fights, prosthetic legs, dirty jokes, an "I aim to misbehave"-style speech, cross-species bickering, off-the-charts badassery, self-sacrifice, and legends of Kevin Bacon - and that's just off the top of my head. The movie blends action, mythos, comedy, and heart with aplomb, hitting all the right beats, and I love the detail paid to the creation of a multi-species space culture. These worlds feel specific and lived in, and interconnected in realistic ways.
The entire main cast is excellent. I'll single out Chris Pratt as Peter and Bradley Cooper as Rocket, and I don't know in what percentages kudos are due to Vin Diesel, the animators, and the writers, but I love Groot so much I can't even. On the villainous side of things, Lee Pace, Karen Gillan (Amy Pond!), and Djimon Hounsou (goodness gracious, I love In America) are all great as the sinister Kree. The whole trio is very convincingly alien, and Lee Pace in particular gives a really entertaining, lofty performance as the monstrous Ronan.
Warnings
Violence (including deaths and attempted genocide,) sexual content, swearing, and drinking.
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