“What are you … doing?”
That’s what evil alien Ronan (Lee Pace) asks of Han Solo-type hero
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) toward the end of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a funny,
thrilling action film from Marvel Studios that is self-aware and comes packed
with the kind of rock-heavy soundtrack not heard since 1980s heydays.
“Footloose” is named-checked. “Cherry Bomb” is played. This is as fuck-it gonzo
flippant as Marvel’s “Captain America 2” was dead serious against Bush/Obama NSA
insanity. Earth-born Quill goes by Star-Lord, a thief who gets mixed up in a
universe-stretching battle Skywalker-style after he nabs a device that looks
like a baseball, joining other thieves and fighters –- including a walking tree
(Vin Diesel) and his raccoon pal (Bradley Cooper) –- along the way.
Director/writer James Gunn serves epic gut-busting comedy first, superhero tales
second. “Why would you to save the galaxy?,” asks Rocket the Raccoon. “Because
I live in the galaxy!,” is the genius reply. Everything about “Guardians” is perfect,
right up to the credits stinger that winks at Marvel’s once abysmal track
record of movie making. Pratt is fast becoming a major film star, having played
lead voice in another 2014 favorite, “The Lego Movie.” A
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