Guardians of the Galaxy review

MOONAGE DAYDREAM

Rating: 9 out of 10

When I have seen a movie that I absolutely loved, I generally discuss my favorite parts in the film with others (whether they want to or not). You know it’s a great movie, and I don’t mean this only for commercial or art-house films, I mean… any film on this planet. You know it’s great when you don’t run out of dialogues, scenes or music to discuss. There are so many, you can’t put your finger on one and call it the best thing about the film. Guardians of the Galaxy is one such film. These films don’t deserve reviews, they deserve a bunch of jackasses standing in a circle going on and going about what was awesome.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a gloriously entertaining space adventure. It’s easy to dismiss Guardians as just another superhero film amongst the various money-spinners churned out by Marvel and DC every year. This is much more than that. For me, it a science-fiction adventure first. I can’t see it as a superhero film. A superhero film is primarily located on Earth where the hero is super because he is more than a human being. That’s just how I look at it.

The film opens with the year I was born. Young Peter Quill loses his mother and subsequently gets abducted from his home planet. We don’t see why. I’m guessing his galactic origin story is saved up for the sequel. We jump straight into his older incarnation, who calls himself Star-Lord, played by the wacky Andy Dwyer. I mean, Chris Pratt.

I have been a fan of Chris Pratt since I saw him in Parks and Recreation. I had been wanting to see him play the lead in a film. Who knew he would be the lead in a big budget comic book movie? I sure didn’t. In fact, Bradley Cooper who voices Rocket Raccoon seems better tipped to play the lead, being a bankable star already. The fact that James Gunn casts against type proves how much he knows about the film he’s made. Pratt makes full use of his charm and channels Indiana Jones and Han Solo but manages to create an original Peter Quill.  Well, because he does what Indy and Han never did. He can dance.

Neytiri, I mean Uhura, uhh no… I definitely mean Gamora, is played by Zoe Saldana. She plays Thanos’ daughter, along with Karen Gillan who plays Nebula. I wish they switched roles as Thanian offsprings. But that’s just the Doctor Who fan boy in me speaking. On a more objective note, somebody needs to give Zoe Saldana a solo film. She’s an under-utilized asset in Hollywood despite being featured in massive mainstream projects. Something better than Columbiana (2011), of course.

The other unusual suspects in the Guardians ensemble are Groot and Drax the Destroyer, played by Vin Diesel and Dave Bautista. Like The Avengers had The Hulk becoming a fan-favorite right after people stepped out of the theater, that spot here is taken by Groot. He is an Ent of sorts, who speaks only three words (and a fourth – wink wink). Every time he speaks the words “I am Groot”, a new Groot fan takes birth. But behold! I was surprised to find that my favorite character was Drax. He had the most deadpan and unexpectedly funny dialogue. I will Shirley never address him as a thesaurus or a princess.

Did I mention this is the best Marvel film since The Avengers (2012)? Oh yes, it is. It’s partly because it’s the funniest since. The comedy has become a Marvel staple. It worked for me in Thor: The Dark World (2013) but fell flat in Iron Man 3 (2013). It didn’t just work here; the comic fireworks were bursting all around. The film is consistently hilarious with many memorable moments, including one where an epiphanic Gamura claims “We’re like Kevin Bacon”. That is, after she has heard the Legend of Footloose.

This bring me back to the dancing. Some of my most favorite scenes in the film include dancing. There is a conversation about Footloose (1984) and how important it is to dance. I’m a firm believer of this ideology. Before I start quoting a song from an Aditya Chopra film, I’ll move on.

Star-Lord performs an opening film stunt like Raiders of the Ark (1981) where he retrieves an orb that sets the plot in motion. The orb is the MacGuffin. Of course, this happens after he boogies his way to Come and Get Your Love by Redbone. During a climactic moment, he breaks into a jig. Yup, it’s again awesome. The icing on the cake is tiny Groot dancing to tiny Michael Jackson’s I Want You Back. I will watch the film once again just for this uncontrollably adorable scene. And watch it many times in isolation for the rest of my life.

There is also a slow motion walk to Ch-Ch-Ch-Cherry Bomb! My personal favorite, I’m Not In Love by 10 cc is the opening song on the Awesome Mix Vol. 1. There are more old-school pop hits featured on the soundtrack; Hooked on a Feeling, the Piñacolada song and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough that I can’t disconnect with Reservoir Dogs (19992), Shrek (2001) and Stepmom (1998).

It’s amazing how James Gunn uses music as his connection to Earth. I used to make mix tapes as a child. It’s one of those things I deeply miss about my teenage years. When I meet friends I had exchanged mix tapes with (I confess, the exchange was one-sided), it brings back a flush of warm memories. I was elated to find that this could indeed be the simplest and most effective connection a cosmic outcast could have with the Earth. Apart from the love for his mother, which is as profound a connection you could have.

Guardians of the Galaxy has carefully placed and brilliantly staged action scenes. It does indeed have the B-movie tropes of films like Howard the Duck (1986) (wink wink again). Although, it combines it with pure A-movie entertainment of films like Star Wars (1977). It will introduce a new generation to Star Wars. Lord of the Rings was my generation’s Star Wars. Next came Avatar (2009). These films were deemed unfilmable and when they were filmed, they changed movie-making forever. Guardians can’t be placed on a pedestal so high but it is a loving tribute to the path-breaking blockbusters that came before. It needs a pedestal of its own, being a neo-postmodern superhero sci-fi extravaganza for the ages.

I have mentioned the humor, the music and the entertaining action but I haven’t mentioned the heart. You may mount the film with every reference to a film or song you love, but if you can’t care for the character, it’s a futile exercise to impress. Amazingly enough, you care for each character. All of the Guardians. The only thing it suffers from is a weak villain. Instead of Ronan, Thanos should have been the bad guy.

2014 is the year of the blockbusters where almost each mainstream project has turned out to be smart and more than just commercial ploy. Guardians of the Galaxy shines bright amongst such strong contenders. As Earthlings, we must walk into this universe and let the marvels unravel. This is recommended viewing for kids of all ages.