Film review: Guardians Of The Galaxy

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Published on Thursday, 31 July 2014 11:00

Last Updated on 31 July 2014

Freda Cooper

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This year’s summer blockbuster season at the cinema is well into its stride – week four, in fact.  Transformers: Age Of Extinction, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes and Hercules have all had their turn.  But now come the unlikeliest bunch of heroes of the lot – a thief, two thugs, a murderer and a maniac – and they all have the fate of 12 billion people in their hands.  They’re the Guardians Of The Galaxy.

 

 

The story

Somewhere far away in outer space, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), aka Star-Lord, steals an orb which turns out to have extraordinary powers.  Not that he knows that, but he soon finds there’s an awful lot of people wanting to get their hands on it. The lethal Ronan The Accuser (Lee Pace) is just one of them.  He teams up, mainly by chance, with a group of alien misfits to keep hold of that orb and protect the galaxy from Ronan and his cohorts.

 

The trailer

 

The verdict

If the plot sounds sparse, that’s because there’s times when it hardly matters.  It’s more of a device for setting up the explosive action sequences and humour – and they’re the reasons for seeing Guardians Of The Galaxy.

The special effects are truly spectacular.  In the main, they’re battle sequences – look out for the one where the massive enemy space ship is overrun by opposing craft, which is a stunning set piece.  And Groot’s ability to extend his arms and legs at will is not only impressive, but downright useful in a tight spot.  More of Groot in a moment.

The humour positively crackles.  This is one film that doesn’t take itself at all seriouslyso the laughs are never far away and they hit the spot every time.  The galaxy is in the hands of a real rag-bag – Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (a green Zoe Saldana) and muscle-bound destroyer Drax (Dave Bautista) who takes everything literally.

But the film really belongs to the other two members of the gang, Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Groot (the voice of Vin Diesel).  And the fact that the film’s best characters are both computer generated is probably its biggest weakness.  Rocket swaggers around on his back legs and delivers some of the best lines in the film.  And then there’s Groot.  His vocabulary stretches to three words “I am Groot”, yet strangely his mate Rocket can understand everything he says.  A big and powerful tree creature, he has the heart of a child.  And don’t leave the cinema without seeing his final scene in the middle of the credits!

 

Mums’ rating:  8/10  With its 12A certificate, this is one for the older kids and grown- ups.  It’s also probably the most fun you’ve had in the cinema for ages – and “I am Groot” has to be this summer’s catchphrase!

 

Guardians Of The Galaxy, certificate 12A, is released nationwide on Thursday, 31 July.