The second string

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is a marvel

Marvel Studios  has spent the last few years  building a cinematic universe spanning decades of comic-book adventures and myriad, well-loved properties (though it hasn’t won back the rights to Spiderman and X-Men).  Their approach is  unprecedented and risky a massive series of films, each interconnecting at some point,, across a shared  universe of canonical storylines going back a half-century.

And unless you’re a fan of that universe already, chances are you haven’t even heard of “Guardians of the Galaxy”in the same way you’ve heard of “The Avengers.” Once again, Marvel takes a risk, trusting that the brand will bring the crowds and that a kick-ass movie will send them out to sing its praises. “Guardians of the Galaxy” not only looks to save a lackluster summer, but it is also the most infectiously fun and satisfying Marvel film to date.

In 1988 we meet Peter Quill as a small child, when he’s losing his mother to cancer. Upon her death he is kidnapped by a passing group of intergalactic pirates called Ravagers, led by the blue-skinned Yondu (Michael Rooker). It’s a rough day.

Twenty-six years later we meet Peter (Chris Pratt) again, this time as a smart-assed, interplanetary, thief-for-hire called Star Lord, infiltrating an alien temple on an abandoned planet in order to steal an ancient artifact for Yondu. He’s nearly thwarted by Korath (spellcheck killer Djimon Hounsou) who also wants the innocuous-looking metal ball for his “100-percent dick” overlord, Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace). Turns out he wants to destroy whole planets with it, chiefly Xandar, the home world of the Nova Corps. Star Lord escapes with the orb, earning the wrath of Ronan and his own father figure, Yondu.

Once he makes it to Xandar, Star Lord is quickly mugged of the artifact by Gamora (Zoe Saldana), a green-skinned assassin who works for Ronan but is looking to sell the relic for herself. The pair is spotted by Rocket and Groot, a genetically-modified raccoon bounty hunter and his tree-like muscle man (voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, respectively), who want the bounty placed on Star Lord’s head by Yondu. Their scuffle lands them all in prison, where they meet Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), another strangely hued alien whose family was massacred by Ronan.

They band together to escape when they realize they can pawn off the artifact to The Collector (Benicio del Toro) for millions. Unfortunately, they’ll have to try and save the universe first.

Director and co-writer James Gunn (“Slither”) handles his first mega-budget space adventure with aplomb. That he’s influenced by Lucas and Spielberg is apparent, from the opening temple sequence that recalls “Raiders of the Lost Ark” to the derring-do pulp joys and kinetic space battles of “Star Wars,” with tons of design nods in between.

The effects work is fantastic. It’s no mystery that Marvel films tend to deliver on the visuals, but here, Gunn fills the frame with minutely rendered details, be they in a chaotic battle above an, alien, ivory city, a gorgeously composed galactic vista, or the industrial detritus of a secret space-mining colony hidden inside the severed, floating head of a celestial giant. It’s a rush of images, ideas, and action that’s exciting but never overwhelming. Sharp-eyed comic fans will spot an Easter egg or two.

But where Gunn nails his target is with the story, a fast-paced yet tangible space opera that’s funny and exciting and that, while familiar, is loaded with memorable characters that seem fresh for their unfamiliarity. Star Lord’s Han Solo qualities aside, he feels genuine, a human anchor for the quartet of alien oddballs whom he befriends.

And it’s pretty easy to fall for this bunch. Chris Pratt brings his natural comedic chemistry to Star Lord while he convincingly sells himself as threat in a fight. His arc is a sympathetic one (like Solo or Indy he’s a scoundrel but not a bad guy), and his comic timing carries some of the biggest laughs of the film, especially when combined with Bradley Cooper’s stellar performance as Rocket. While the effects render the shit-talking, nut-scratching, machine gun-toting raccoon as faithfully as one could imagine, it’s Cooper’s Baby Huey, Brooklyn-tinged sneer that sells the reality.

Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista also deliver. Saldana, as Gamora,  nails a bad-ass yet vulnerable performance while Bautista does much the same as Drax, a big, loyal lug if there ever was one. Vin Deisel, as Groot, has only one repeating line, but he brings his trademark Iron Giant moroseness to give it depth. Michael Rooker is a blast as Yondu. You can’t fake his kind of crazy.

In their own ways they learn to drop their defenses to become less self-involved, and all of them are uniquely engaging on screen for that reason. Memorable supporting turns from John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio del Toro fill out the periphery of a well-chosen cast.              

“Guardians of the Galaxy” is the crowd-pleasing goods. From its anachronistic soundtrack of Dad Rock to its rollicking, sincere sense of fun and adventure, it’s the best time in a theater right now.

And, as always with Marvel films, stick around until the end of the credits.