I don’t really understand how this movie franchise manages to get away with this much good fortune. Only in the most intense marketing fever dream, does this plan just continue to make money. But lo and behold, the movies are good, and well-loved. Not a single misstep. The entire world is watching this high wire act, and they have not fallen yet.

This is apparently my way of telling you, that I liked this movie.

Which is an accurate summation, because this film was fantastic!

Marvel’s history when it comes to movies about superhero groups, is turbulent. Prior to the Disney/Marvel combo, the only movies made, were the two Fantastic Four films. Which were so terrible, that they are completely remaking it for the new franchise.

Since then, they have made one other group movie.

The Avengers.

So yeah, I wasn’t worried about the fact that they were a group. I trusted them to not f*** that part up.

Yet I was still dubious, the movie is in the far galaxies of the marvel universe. Away from the earth that the films have thus far stayed on. Focusing on the strange, and often convoluted planets outside our system. Where almost every species is distinguishable by their skin color, and nothing else.

I did not know how they were going to make such a silly universe seem serious.

Well apparently they didn’t either, because this movie is not the usual action fare. Oh, there is plenty of actions in this film, but it is also a comedy. An excellent comedy as it turns out.

The jokes consist of witty dialog and juxtaposition. No references, no potty humor. Just genuine clever writing. On that fact alone, this movie is a breath of fresh air.

But it does not stop there. The film also has some profound punches in it. Moments of very human emotions, even if they are being had by a talking Raccoon.

In fact, can we talk about Rocket the Raccoon?

He’s awesome. Voiced well, and generated down to the whisker. He is somehow the funniest of the group, and the most serious.

They honestly made me want to shed tears for this little guy.

Yes, he is a Raccoon, but he is as intelligent as anyone else. Also there is something so bad-ass about a creature carrying a gun that is bigger than his entire body.

He also has a buddy cop relationship with the second best character.

I would introduce him, but he likes to do it. So I may as well let him.

” I am Groot”

“Thank you Groot, that will be all.”

“I am Groot”

“Yes I know, now go sit over there.”

Stomp, stomp, stomp

Yeah, so you know that one scene near the end of the Avengers where Hulk gets told to smash, and he gives that big smile? Yeah, combo that with a puppy, and you have Groot. A tree person of unknown origin. He works with Rocket, and can only say three words.

I don’t think I need to tell you what they are.

Honestly I could just make this entire review about each person in the group. Because they are all well-developed characters. Each one with their own quirks and tragic back-story. Well except Groot. I imagine he did not have much of a tragic life..

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Along with the characters, the movie also contains the now-standard slew of excellent special effects, and nail-biting action.

All of this adds up to a great movie about awesome heroes.

But that leads me to the one major problem. The heroes are interesting, but the villains are lackluster. Oh sure, they do villainous things, and they are threatening, but they lack motivation. This movie contains three separate villains, and none of them had much of a reason for doing what they do.

The only one that comes close to actually being fleshed out is Yondu.

The other ones are simply evil for the sake of being evil. Or because they just want to commit genocide.

By what, or what the context was, is never explained. Perhaps it will be in the sequel, but for now, I have no idea

Really I think the point of them is just to create a threat for the Guardians to fight against, and in that department, they do their job. They may just be punching bags, but they are snazzy punching bags.

All in all, the movie is another master stroke by the Marvel team. An introduction to the wider world of the Marvel universe. A universe that will no doubt have massive payoff somewhere down the line, in whatever movie they decide to pull the trigger.

But like every movie I review, it must still be judged. So I say unto you…..

TO THE CHECKLIST!

1.  The movie is clever and smart. Check!
2.  The viewer experiences the emotion or tone that was intended by the director. Check! 
3.  The main characters are interesting, dynamic, and not stereotypical. The green chick is a bit flat, but the other four make up for it. Check!
4. The movie is not a remake, prequel, sequel, or a mid-quell. If it is one, it needs to be better than the original. Check!
5. Engaging and well paced. Basically stuff happens at a good pace. Check!
6. Has a story worth telling. Check!
7. Has a satisfying resolution. Check!
8. General technical excellence. Camera angles are good, and the lighting is pleasing to look at.Check!
9. The movie does not have any plot holes in it. The physics of space is almost completely ignored, so no……
10. Not predictable, story does not follow a paint by numbers plot. Despite the convoluted world, it is a mostly standard get-the-mcguffin plot.

So the movie gets an excellent score of 8/10. Making the final score……

• Score: 8/10
• Buy or Rent: Buy
• Rewatch Value: High, you never know what in the background might show up later.

Well, another Marvel movie down, so many more to go. The next one being the Fantastic Four remake.

Looking forward to it.

See ya next time!