Guardians Of The Galaxy Movie Review

By: Lynn Barker

Can an unlikely crew of misfits, many of whom start out as enemies, team up to save the galaxy from a greedy, power-mad warlord? Hey, it’s the Marvel Universe. Of course they can and they do it with a unique flair all their own.

The Guardians in a police line upCourtesy of Marvel Studios

The Backstory

Planet Earth, 1988 – Young Peter Quill (played as an adult by Chris Pratt) is losing his mom to cancer. He honors her by constantly playing a ‘70’s-‘80’s mixtape of tunes on his Walkman (for your generation, a small, portable tape player that came before the iPod.) Walking outside, Peter is swept up by a giant spaceship piloted by Yondu (Michael Rooker) a mercenary bandit called a Ravager.

Yondu and henchmanCourtesy of Marvel Studios

Adventurer Peter Quill

Years later, Peter, who calls himself “Star-Lord” and is a mix of Han Solo and Captain Kirk (ladies’ man-wise), is working for Yondu and explores a weird cave while listening to the old tunes on the Walkman he still carries. He’s been sent to find a strange, levitating device just called “the Orb” so Yondu can sell it but Peter decides to sell it on his own.  Baddie Ronan (Lee Pace) also wants the powerful orb.

Gamora leading the wayCourtesy of Marvel Studios

The Baddies

Ronan is supposed to give the orb to his boss Thanos in return for the warlord’s aid in getting revenge against planet Xander. Ronan’s henchwoman, a hot, green-skinned enhanced assassin name Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Thanos’ adopted daughter, is sent after Quill to get the orb. She finds him on Xander where bounty hunter Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and his tree-like protector Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) are after Quill to get the reward Yondu has placed on his head.

Evil Ronan on his throneCourtesy of Marvel Studios

Prison and The Collector

After lots of action and fighting over the orb, the whole group lands in prison where they have to reluctantly team up to escape. Fellow convict Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) joins in and they get away in Quill’s spaceship. The five make a deal to fence the orb to The Collector (Benecio del Toro), a guy Gamora knows, bypassing both Yondu and Ronan. It is The Collector from whom they learn the true power of the orb and how it could destroy the whole galaxy.

The Guardians in prisonCourtesy of Marvel Studios

Fighting for Xander

Putting their differences aside, becoming true friends (Quill and Gamora becoming maybe more than friends), the gang unites and, with the aid of Xander’s elite police force the Nova Corps, they are able to protect the planet and finally prevent the baddies from using the orb’s power to destroy most of the universe.

Quill at the controlsCourtesy of Marvel Studios

Wrapping Up

Guardians of the Galaxy is the best “feel good” film of the summer. It’s got it all; action, romance, lots of humor, memorable characters all well-acted, impressive sets and effects and great ‘80’s classic music that matches the mood of every scene it plays under. It’s the best ‘80’s mixtape ever. If you haven’t gone “retro” in your music tastes, I’ll bet you’ve heard your parents playing these tunes or heard them on the radio at least.

Quill's beloved mix tapeCourtesy of Marvel Studios

Characters are endearing and some (especially the adorable Rocket Raccoon and Groot) are unique. You love all these guys and root for them bigtime. As lead character Quill basically says to his fellow Guardians “You guys are losers. I mean, you’ve all lost something or someone”. We can all relate. This is the first Marvel film, other than the Iron Man series, to really capitalize on the wit and humor of its characters. There are no “dud” jokes in this movie. When it is not busy developing the characters and their relationships and tugging at your heart, it is making you roll in the aisles with laughter.

Groot and Rocket in actionCourtesy of Marvel Studios

Sure, the basic plot is all comic-book and as old as storytelling: some weird-looking baddies want to control or destroy the universe and need some kind of amazing power source to do it and it’s up to a gang of rebels/outlaws etc. to stop them.  But… you just don’t care. You are too busy enjoying the spectacle, the humor and bonding with the Guardians.

Quill and Gamora get romanticCourtesy of Marvel Studios

If the plot were more original, I would go a strong five stars. Even as is, I go four plus. This is a film you, your friends and even parents will get a huge kick out of. Go see it!!

Guardians Of The Galaxy Movie Rating:

Guardians Of The Galaxy Movie PosterCourtesy of Marvel Studios

Guardians Of The Galaxy is in theaters now!