10 years. 18 movies. Dozens of memorable moments of movie magic. With Avengers: Infinity War bringing a grand chapter of film history to a close, let’s look back at how we got to this point, one film at a time. In Part 10, Marvel introduces us to their lovable group of intergalactic A-Holes with Guardians of the Galaxy.
Throughout this series, I’ve discussed three turning points in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has propelled them to the top of their industry. The first was the commitment to the magical and mythical in Thor. The second was the successful team-up of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in The Avengers. The third turning point that has allowed Marvel to write themselves blank checks to express comic-book creativity is Guardians of the Galaxy.
James Gunn’s sci-fi space adventure comedy caught everyone by surprise when it set the box office on fire in the summer of 2014. Audiences wholeheartedly embraced the irreverent, rugged charm of these five colorful outlaws, characters only known to the hardest of hardcore comic fans before their big screen adaptation. It’s a big ask of the public to go along with lesser known characters, as they are easy to reject things they find alien (figuratively and literally speaking). Diving into your B and C roster less than a dozen movies into your filmography is a bold choice. But that’s where the MCU succeeds; nine times out of ten, they get the right person for the job and give them the creative reins to nail down what everyone wants and needs.
Really, Guardians of the Galaxy’s mass appeal is only not baffling because of how good the film ended up being. These characters are written for cult comedy, the niche sense of humor that Gunn has worked towards for his entire career. Credit goes to the creative team to lean into what makes the Guardians different from the Avengers; their moral flexibility and questionable role-model status. The movie’s sterling sense of humor features numerous sexual references, plenty of salty language, drug and alcohol paraphernalia, and references to murder and theft. Your kids might want to dress up as Rocket Raccoon for Halloween instead of Captain America, but you should encourage them to act like the latter.
Those certainly aren’t negatives, merely just observations of this movie’s success as a severely strange phenomenon. If anything, the fact that these characters aren’t traditional heroes is what makes them so interesting, and what eventually pulls all of them together. As much as Peter Quill, Drax, Gamora, Rocket and (to an extent) Groot love to crack wise, Gunn leans into how emotionally damaged each of them are in their own ways. It’s why they all work so well as a team, and why the movie expertly balances drama and comedy in ways that few others could pull off.
The tremendous actors headlining the team are a big part of why Guardians of the Galaxy struck a chord with the popular zeitgeist. It feels weird to think back to a time when Chris Pratt wasn’t a major movie star, but pre-Star Lord, he was known best as a supporting spark of comedic relief. It’s stunning to see how well the role of suave leading man suits him. He’s a great core to build around, backed up by actors trying to steal scenes from each other. Bradley Cooper builds a surprisingly complex character out of Rocket, and Vin Diesel rings a ton out of three words (ok, technically four). Zoe Saldana is a great stoic straight woman to the boy’s antics, but the real revelation is wrestler Dave Bautista as Drax, whose comedic timing makes you wonder if the WWE could be a great untapped source of talent.
With the heroes rightfully dominating their own film, Guardians of the Galaxy suffers in other aspects. Lee Pace’s Ronan the Accuser is really just an opposing force that brings the team together, and the movie doesn’t really have any time to give him anything to do beyond that. The film might’ve been more interesting if Karen Gillian’s robotic Nebula, sister of Gamora and daughter of Thanos (who gets his first extended period of time to shine), were the main villain of the piece. I worry that may have strayed too close to what Marvel’s being doing with Loki, but it at least would have added much more of a personal connection.
Still, when eighty-five percent of a movie is strong, it’s a success. Guardians of the Galaxy does everything it needs to do to get us excited about yet another team of super-powered beings. It’s purely fantastic sci-fi entertainment from start to finish, and infinitely re-watchable. Most importantly, it puts them on a crash course to meet up with the Avengers as they all face their greatest threat yet.
RATING: 8.5/10
RANKINGS:
1. THE AVENGERS
2. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
3. IRON MAN
4. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
6. IRON MAN 3
7. THOR
8. IRON MAN 2
9. THE INCREDIBLE HULK
10. THOR: THE DARK WORLD
SUPERHEROIC STUFF (random observations and moments from this additional viewing of the film. Spoilers)
-One of the funniest Marvel movies actually begins with one of the universe’s most emotionally sad scenes, where Peter has to say goodbye to his mother for the final time.
-Peter’s mom references an angel when talking about his father, teasing Kurt Russell’s Ego, who we meet in Vol. 2.
–In the Winter Soldier review, I highlighted the stylistic end credits. Guardians does the same thing with it’s opening credits, a singalong through a cave with Star Lord.
-“I’m Star Lord….”
-This movie wastes Djimon Hounsou, by the way.
–Stan Lee Cameo-this one comes early in the movie and is fairly unremarkable. Stan is seen by Rocket hitting on a woman. Rocket remarks that he should be getting home to his wife.
-It’s a little awkward outside of the trailer, but using the police lineup as character introductions is a serviceable way to give a lot of information in a little amount of time.
-What is this orange stuff getting sprayed on them when they’re imprisoned?
-Groot’s a lovable tree, but the way he picks up this prisoner by the nose is brutal.
-Why do some prisoners get their own cells and some don’t?
-Drax taking everything literally is the best character trait in the film.
-“Fail me again, and I will bathe the stairways in your blood.” Thanos isn’t messing around.
-Oh, YEAH:
-That first team shot isn’t as iconic as the one from The Avengers, but it’s still pretty cool. Loving the metal leg over the shoulder!
-There are a ton of Easter Eggs in the Collector’s base of operations, including one of the Dark Elves from Thor: the Dark World, a member of the Chitauri army terrorizing earth in The Avengers, and Astro the space dog!
-The design of Knowhere, the celestial space skull that’s home to the Collector, is visually stunning. Gunn and his team use inventive alien design to great effect.
-Groot giving the flower to the little girl is a touching little moment.
–Guardians doesn’t have too much time to go into Gamora’s background, and Volume 2 basically ignores those elements in favor of her relationship with Nebula. However, this movie teases it enough for it to come into play big time for Infinity War.
-This is our first official extended introduction to the Infinity Stones. Gotta love the Collector’s reaction, and Rocket mocking that reaction moments later.
-Quill attempting to sacrifice himself for Gamora follows in the long line of sacrifices that the MCU continues to build upon. The big difference? Peter’s not exactly humble about it.
-This movie closely follows the structure of The Avengers, with the heroes arguing in act two and taking a big hit only to rally for the big battle in act three (they aren’t the only movies that exclusively do that, but still).
-Ronan’s plan really just boils down to military radicalism. It’s not all that deep. It feels like the movie’s missing twenty minutes or so that would’ve gone into that more.
-The twelve percent of a plan discussion feels like a direct callback to the twelve percent joke between Tony and Pepper in The Avengers.
-The final battle is colorful and utilizes the strengths of each team member.
-The Nova pilots forming a blockade makes for a great visual.
-Yondu’s such a badass, and this is a great tease for his expanded role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
-Why didn’t Groot lead with this move??
-Again with the sacrifice motif, Groot and Rocket both puts himself in harm’s way for the cause.
-I’m a little iffy on the distraction dance. I’m also a little iffy on using the orb against Ronan when it’s been made clear that they should all die from it. They try to explain it off by saying that Peter is part alien, but that feels a little convenient.
-The reveal that “Star Lord” is the nickname that Peter’s mom gave to him is another emotional highlight.
-James Gunn has said that the Baby Groot that shows up at the end of this film is a new Groot, and that the old Groot has died.
–Stinger Central: There are two, both of them comedic. The first features little baby Groot getting down to the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” playing Red Light, Green Light as Drax keeps peering over. The second features another prized piece of the Collector’s trophy case, as Howard the Duck mocks Taneleer for allowing Astro to lick him on the lips. Could Howard be pulling the strings behind Thanos’ evil schemes? I guess we don’t know for sure!
Cinema Frenzy 