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All heroes start somewhere.

Guardians of the Galaxy, USA/UK, 2014. Directed by J. Gunn, written by J. Gunn and N. Perlman (from the comic books by D. Abnett & A. Lanning). With Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper. Original music by T. Bates. Length: 121′. Rated: PG-13.

Peter Quill: a poor child left an orphan too early, a victim of a kidnapping or… one of the most dangerous criminals in the galaxy?
An orb, located in a deserted planet, is only another item to rob to him, but he ignores that the power hidden in it is the greatest and unstoppable of all and that Ronan, armed arm of the terrible Thanos, wants to use it to detroy the entire galaxy. This evil plan come to light thanks to the unexpected arrival and collaboration of Gamora, Thanos’ step-child, and of the strange couple made of the experimental racoon-like robot Rocket and the human-like tree Groot. Together, and with the last minute arrival of Drax the destructor who’s only goal is to get revenge on Ronan, the improvised team will try and save the galaxy.

MARVEL: lately, a real guarantee on superheroes cine-comics. And, by the look of the plan of actions for the next few years, it will stay this way.
Truth be told, among the cinematic universe of Thor, Captain America and Iron-Man, this movie was born, and really seemed, to be the less attractive and low-profiled. Its value turned out to be much higher, thanks to a slower and more accurate production disconnected from the box-office expectations: “Guardians of the Galaxy” was in the end the highest gross of the year in the USA, leaving behind another Marvel product, “Captain America – Winter Soldier”.

Not least: James Gunn, seriously? The director of almost nothing but “Comic Movie”? And already depicted as a failure in superheroes film after the forgettable “Super”? Not at all! His direction is not impeccable at all, but his hand is undetectable; it’s not heavy, but it avoids a disaster, which would be noted (lowing the general level too). To be a bit light in judgement, maybe, but this means that is a good work.
What really keeps the movie going, and on a high level maybe only seen before in the first Iron-Man since the beginning of the new franchise, is the story. And the screenplay in general. It’s the second job in this role for Nicole Perlman (after the first “Thor” movie, surely a good one), but more probably the merit goes to Dan Abnett and Andy Lenning’s comic books, which I won’t talk about but that undoubtedly gave the most interesting ideas. One of them, maybe the coolest: Marvel’s heroes where mostly born with their powers or, more rarely, they created their superpowers themselves; these Guardians are instead real ‘normal’ people! Right, they have some advanced skill in combat, something a bit more professional than most of us ‘humans’, but on this level the truthfulness, and the realism, can make, and makes, the difference.
And also the characterisations are almost perfect, most of all Rocket’s and Gamora’s, who despite their non-human form hide some pretty human characteristics underneath, and also Peter’s sad past and Drax’s golden heart beneath his muscles are studied and represented in the best way possible.

Talking of the cast, there will be a book to write: Vin Diesel’s and Bradley Cooper’s voices for Groot and Rocket are themselves very important details.
This was an ‘introducing’ opportunity for Chris Pratt, waiting to measure himself with Jurassic Park’s and Indiana Jones’s reboots; or, at first sight, would seem to be so, after an early career made of little supporting roles. After all, his evolution will have to be well monitored: it’s not an Oscar interpretation, but if Peter’s humanity comes directly to the audience stomaches its his merit too. At his side, Zoe Saldana: after “Star Trek” and “Avatar”, another space-set movie; something to look forward from her too. This was not her first convincing role, but she’s growing a lot and even under the motion-capture suit hers is a more than positive performance. A little notation: her blue Avatar, her green Gamora… see her human beauty would be so bad?
Dave Bautista is not really new to acting, and in some ways he shows a good capacity in ensemble performances and a good sensibility to fit into different roles. He is not a born actor, though, and it shows a bit. Luckily, a bit.
Slightly more than cameos for Lee Pace, Djimon Hounsou, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro (by the way, WAIT for the end of the credits: Marvel, sound familiar?) and mostly John C. Reilly, who’s part is little in screening time but he always shows he deserves something more than a supporting role. “Carnage” teaches a lesson in this matter.

Last of all, the soundtrack. Instead of push on epic melodies Tyler Bates decides to give almost complete room to Peter Quill and his nostalgic cassettes. Here comes the moving tear from who was raised with them. And this strange choice, in the end, was an important feature to narrow the distance between a such distant setting and the audience in cinemas, who partecipate, applaude (an inner applause, of course), keeps its breath, cheers and laugh to the characters adventures, in a movie that has so little fantasy and so much humanity in it.

And the stars, for once, are truly at the viewer’s reach.

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LEGGI LA RECENSIONE IN ITALIANO: Guardiani della Galassia – Recensione