On Guardians of the Galaxy

It says something about the Marvel canon of films that moving into space is considered an experimental and risky move. But it’s not surprising for fans of the Marvel films; they have become so stale and repetitive that seeing Guardians of the Galaxy must be akin to regular cinema viewers seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) for the first time.

Yet this is unfair to Guardians. Compared to its little brothers and sisters of the studio it is a leap forward into a more enjoyable, sharper type of cinema. Compared to the wider genre, it is still fun, calling to mind 2005’s Serenity, but without the darkness that film had. The detail in the setting creates a ‘believable’ other world and does not feel too far from Star Wars - A New Hope (1977). This all makes for a fun film, but perhaps Guardians biggest skill is in its easy nostalgia.

For young children the film offers much, but from its opening scene of a young boy listening to a Sony Walkman in 1988, the film taps into a sense of adventure that its audience (that will be mostly male) will enjoy. It’s hard to be critical about something that calls to mind such fond memories of playing the hero. The film is very well cast and the direction is solid, moving between comedy and pathos with ease. Guardians of the Galaxy in its own way is a form of pastiche. Imitating the Marvel films, but with a greater sense of self-awareness, leading to genuine humour.