So, I'll bite.
Guardians of the Galaxy is the most fun you'll have in space. I don't mean that lightly, nor is it hyperbole, it really is an incredibly fun ride, and all the parts of the movie funnel into that one goal and Guardians delivers on it wholeheartedly.
The lead, Chris Pratt is charismatic and earnest and his comedy background is by no means wasted as he blunders and bluffs and wisecracks his way through the galaxy, accompanied by Zoe Saldana's femme fatale with a heart of gold and Dave Bautista's affably aloof homocidal maniac. Perhaps one of the biggest successes of the film is that the team of 5 renegades feels whole and cohesive even though two of its members, voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Disel, are entirely CGI.
And that's the big surprise of Guardians, is that it has feels. Having a comedian as the lead was always the harbinger of what turns out to be a very funny movie, with whimsical but appropriate song selection from the 70s and 80s as the soundtrack, extreme culture clashes including a string of fish out of water jokes. There's a particularly compelling gag about "the great hero Kevin Bacon." But the characters have moments of heart and clarity and emotional exuberance that is hard to stay aloof from. It earns real tears from the characters, which is a feat considering some of the more emotional scenes are with CGI characters. There are many many moments of emotional fulfillment that are paid off, and this, paired with the many moments of genuine situational comedy make for a film that is enjoyable, even memorable throughout the entire film.
While Josh Brolin seems slightly uncomfortable in his role and Benicio Del Toro is alarmingly comfortable in his, Lee Pace as the main antagonist taps into his character's zealotry well. While one can question his effectiveness, his dedication seems faultless. Karen Gillian also turns in a brief but admirable performance. Other recognizable stars also pop up in Glenn Close, John C. Reilly, Djimon Honsou, Michael Rooker with various levels of antagonism and consistent clarity of thought, action, emotion and comedy. There is a sort of mysteriousness and vagueness to the MacGuffin of the film, the mysterious Orb that Chris Pratt's character retrieves in the beginning that drives the film, and even causes the villains to change their goals. This vagueness is perhaps necessary for the MCU's overarching story, however the vagueness of the MacGuffin makes the stakes of the film's third act seem somewhat contrived, another example of Marvel gambling on their overarching universe, at times, at the expense of the individual films.
Still, this particular film is one of their best, perhaps their very best, and in fact is a bit difficult not to enjoy as it fires on all four cylinders for two hours straight. It comes highly recommended.
