Smart, Sassy, Witty Fun

Rating: 10/10 (6 August 2014)

Now, I was utterly unfamiliar with the source material, but Gunn wrote two films I adore: the remake of Dawn of the Dead (2004) and then Slither (2006). I expected a Marvel action film. I did not expect an utterly hilarious, delightful, and overwhelmingly charming action film. Truly, I haven't had this much fun at the movies since at least Pacific Rim. The cast is superb, from Chris Pratt to Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper to Karen Gillan (Amy Pond in Doctor Who). Indeed, Gillan was a truly unexpected gem as Nebula (and she actually shaved her head for the role!). She might even have stolen the show for me, if not for Cooper's portrayal of Rocket, the genetically altered, cybernetic enhanced raccoon. This movie was breathtakingly funny, and the visuals were, to say the least, stunning. The space battles, the splendid makeup, the fully realized environments. I could go on and on. Fans of Farscape will, I think, see a lot of John Crichton in Chris Pratt's bumbling, exasperated "Star Lord." With just a dash of Malcolm Reynolds. And that's only the tip of the cultural-reference iceberg. This is a smart, sassy, witty film, and it's utterly over-the-top ridiculous. And sexy. It might wind up being my favorite film of the year. Oh! And the 1970s soundtrack, an inspired touch. Oh! And a cameo by my favorite comic book character ever!