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Some summers, it seems as though a new action-packed blockbuster hits theaters every weekend. This summer, on the other hand, has been less than remarkable, with plenty of so-so superheroes and underperforming action movies. But leave it to Marvel to shake up an otherwise ho-hum summer with Guardians of the Galaxy, an out-of-the-ordinary out-of-this-world adventure.
Guardians of the Galaxy introduces a band of unlikely otherworldly heroes who find themselves teaming up to save the universe from destruction. When intergalactic outlaw Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) steals a mysterious orb from a deserted planet, he unwittingly begins a battle for its control. Everyone, it seems, wants the orb—including ruthless terrorist Ronan (Lee Pace), who plans to use what’s inside it to wipe out billions of people.
Peter soon finds himself pursued by everyone from Ronan’s followers to furry bounty hunters. But when they discover Ronan’s plans for the orb, Peter and his pursuers decide to work together to stop him.
Guardians of the Galaxy isn’t the typical Marvel action movie. Though the effects are just as stunning and the action is just as thrilling, the setting and tone make it stand out from the Avengers films. The story takes place in a faraway part of outer space—not on Earth—which sometimes makes it feel more like a Star Wars spinoff than a superhero thriller. And the heroes aren’t exactly the most virtuous of characters. Instead, they’re an eccentric assortment of criminals whose first mission as a reluctant, loosely-connected team is a prison break.
The tone, meanwhile, is much more playful than we’ve seen in recent Marvel releases. Though the story can be surprisingly dark (and extremely detailed) at times, there’s something about the quirky characters and their brightly-colored otherworldly surroundings that makes it all feel light and fun. And whenever things start to get a little too heavy, the soundtrack will shift to Peter’s “Awesome Mix” of retro pop hits—or one of the characters will throw out a well-timed one-liner—and everything balances out again.
And the characters help with that balance. Some provide the laughs—like the blunt and bossy genetically-engineered raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) or Peter, the carefree crook. Others—like Zoe Saldana’s Gamora and Dave Bautista’s Drax—pack a surprising punch. And, together, they make an entertaining team of lovably flawed outlaws turned crime fighters.
Guardians of the Galaxy doesn’t have the same kind of heart-swelling heroics of other Marvel films, but it’s definitely a whole lot of fun. If you’ve spent your summer waiting for an entertaining and action-packed popcorn flick, your wait is finally over.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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