This risk paid off!

Rating: 8/10 (3 August 2014)

When it comes to making choices there is no studio willing to take risks than Marvel. Their track record of casting ex-addicts (Robert Downey Jnr) and indie directors (Kenneth Branagh (Thor) John Favreau (Iron Man) and the Russo Brothers (Captain America 2) have paid off immensely. But to date all the movies they have skilfully crafted have been mainstream heroes. Guardians of the Galaxy is their biggest risk yet. Based on an obscure comic without the advantage of 50+ years of history behind it and no direct connection to The Avengers, some considered Guardians to be a step too far. However Marvel have again proved their worth and come out on top.
The prologue begins on Earth in the 1980s as a young Peter Quill flees a hospital after witnessing his mother pass away and is swiftly kidnapped by an alien ship. Cut to 26 years later and Quill (given himself the title Star Lord and still listening to music on his cassette playing Walkman) is on the hunt for a mysterious alien orb that will make him rich. After narrowly escaping an attack from another group of hunters, he is arrested and locked up with a group of misfits – green assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (ex-wrestler Dave Bautista), Rocket (a brilliantly CGI raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Groot (an alien tree-humanoid also CGI brought to life by Vin Diesel). Cue one of the most enjoyable prison breaks in recent memory.
Each member of the Guardians has their own motive: Gamora works for her father Thanos (THE big bad of the Marvel universe, only glimpsed here but will play a key role in Avengers 3 when it eventually happens) who is after the powerful orb to help him accomplish his task of ruling the universe. Rocket and Groot are working together as Bounty Hunters and wish to arrest Quill for a huge reward and Drax is on a revenge mission to hunt down Ronan The Accuser (the bad guy pulling the strings) who murdered his wife and daughter.
Together the Guardians have fantastic chemistry and is laugh out loud funny in a number of places. Although the focus is on Quill as Star Lord (played out well by comic actor Chris Pratt), the two CGI creations Rocket and Groot steal the show, especially with Groot's limited vocabulary – he only says I Am Groot but it actually makes sense!
Although the story is nothing new – huge source of power, characters team up and save the day in a big action finale, Guardians feels fresh as it expands the Marvel Universe into outa space – Earth doesn't get another mention. The special effects are excellent but the focus is always on the characters as they team up to thwart Ronan and his army.
All in all, Guardians is a very enjoyable and recommended addition to the Marvel Universe. As usual stay till after the credits for a funny surprise. This risk has definitely paid off.