An alternative to the six-star rating system I've coined is the John C. Reilly barometer.™ "Gangs of New York", "Chicago", "Step Brothers", "Wreck-It Ralph": they're great movies, but what do they all have in common? The curly-haired funnyman. The number of good films I've seen the actor in has surpassed coincidence, so as an ongoing theory, I claim John C. Reilly to be as strong a beacon for film quality as Kevin Bacon is for networking. This week, I'm testing the barometer once again, and I'm happy to say, the evidence is in my favor. The newest recipient of the John C. Reilly seal of approval is "Guardians of the Galaxy". (Reilly plays a policeman.)
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is a thief-for-hire, scrounging the galaxy for treasure as the blaster-wielding Star-Lord (at least, that's what he calls himself). His newest foray involves an orb that, due to its intense power, attracts Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), whom assisted by the assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), vows to use the orb's power to conquer the galaxy.
Naturally, there's a small legion after Peter. Not only is Gamora after the orb, but a pair of hunters, the raccoon-like berserker Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and giant tree-humanoid Groot (Vin Diesel) are after the bounty Quill's boss (Michael Rooker) has set on his head (Peter's attempts to sell the orb for himself didn't go unnoticed). After a chaotic meeting, the four are captured and thrown in prison. After recruiting Drax (Dave Bautista), whose family was murdered by Ronan, they form a shaky alliance to help one another in their pursuits of money, vengeance, freedom, and redemption.
"Guardians of the Galaxy" is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. To say so is surprising; the film's one of the more obscure properties in Marvel's line-up. This creates a paradox of expectations: this is a fairly unknown source material, so the general public doesn't know what an adaptation should be like. However, due to the Marvel name, the public expects something fresh and vibrant; the brand, like John C. Reilly, has become synonymous with quality.
"Guardians" is comfortable when relishing in its off-kilter swagger, as Star-Lord uses a rat/lizard hybrid as a microphone to sing Redbone's "Come And Get Your Love", or as the movie explores, in glorious slow-motion, Rocket's assault rifle fetish (a cinematic first, I'm sure). Director/writer James Gunn infuses scenes with witty, playful dialogue; the characters have a blast bantering back and forth, leading to some of the most enjoyable Marvel movie quotes to date.
However, Gunn is no Whedon. Despite some of "Guardians'" scenes resembling "The Avengers", primarily a couple Groot battles, Joss Whedon's light-hearted popcorn film full of punchlines and silly faces takes a couple more risks with Gunn at the helm. A scene in a bar has Rocket and Drax on the verge of a brawl, both drunk and insulted. While the three-way fight between Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor was played for laughs and bombastic action, Rocket and Drax's dilemma comes off as both humorous and pathetic. Gunn and co-writer Nicole Perlman don't show these characters as heroes, but people (I use the word loosely) trying to make the best of their situations. They're violent, desperate, grieving, full of loss and hurt. These characters' vulnerabilities are put on the spotlight, free of any romanticism the "brooding gritty hero" stereotype usually brings to the table. They can be pitiful and pathetic, but they're honest in a way that feels completely natural.
Where the movie begins to falter in its latter half, where its loose, haphazard confidence tightens in the wake of a typical superhero climax. For a movie so comfortable being tongue-in-cheek, almost to the point of parodying other superhero movies, as Ronan's plan nears closer to fruition, the gang suits up and plays it straight. Now, this isn't "The Dark Knight" or anything; we have nuggets of the sarcastic, hyper-energetic first half, just not as much. While I can understand the necessity for a superhero film to follow the cliches of rallying the troops and leading one last stand as part of crafting a more cohesive plot, I can't help but feel disappointed Gunn and Perlman didn't keep pushing the ante and taking more risks, testing the boundaries of what a Marvel audience can take. I found details in the resolution to be sequel bait, and while the climax is huge, it's mostly predictable, in terms of what stages the climax needs to go through (see "Captain America: The Winter Soldier").
Despite a few setbacks, "Guardians of the Galaxy" is impressive. Its humor, characters, direction, and tone make it a unique experience, enjoyable from start to finish. The risks Gunn and team take pay off well, and I hope that with the film's success, later movies in the superhero genre will take even more risks, expanding their artistic horizons. Full of fun and heart, the movie earns a good recommendation.
Thank you all for reading, I'm the Man Without A Plan, signing off.
P.S. I cannot stress this enough. People, this is a Marvel movie. Stay through the credits! There are two after-movie scenes: one in the middle of the credits and one afterwards. Not only do these kinds of scenes foreshadow and give hints to the sequels, they provide an incentive to remain and recognize the work from the hundreds of people whose day jobs go into the entertainment. Let's show them our respect and have some fun while doing so. :)
"Guardians of the Galaxy" Trailer:
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