Doesn’t let its guard down

Nonika Singh

Guardians of Galaxy or saviours of humanity, call it by whatever name, it means all the same. Few good guys against the bad ones, of course when it’s a Marvel franchise, add to it loads of action, some out of the world spectacles and staggering special effects (further enhanced by 3D) and the circle and cycle of story is all but complete.

 Not to say that the sequel to the hugely successful Guardians that presented many an unusual character is without a story line. Rather it tries to pack in emotions by placing warring sisters in prime zone and then there is a father son angle that is the crux.  Peter Quill’s ancestry takes him to his father (so far missing) who calls himself a celestial being and to the planet created by him. Expectedly Quill too is part god and possesses miraculous powers to create.

Ergo, before the father son duo (Kurt Russell and Chris Pratt) can team up and take on the world, oops galaxies (if you will so have it), let you be told Ego is the name and a giveaway of what will follow. In between the father-son bonding (they share their favourite songs) there is the foster father, the real emotional core. And above all stands Baby Groot.

Powered by the voice of Vin Diesel he and Rocket Racoon (Bradely Cooper’s voice), who seems to have the best dialogues, provide the most interesting moments in the film that is anyway not short on wry, self-deprecating humour. Extravagance too is writ, nay emblazoned, in neon colours.

Be it the golden haired priestess who sets the ball rolling in the beginning or the gooey lava the octopus like creature throws up or the off-colour green complexion of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), colours abound and up the fantastical element. Much else is fanciful adding to the narrative that does have a maniac energy. In the first hour or so it leaves you little time to blink or think. Not that such films are mounted to tease your grey cells or provoke you, though to be fair it has abundant one-liners, mostly witty, to save the day.

Besides, actors, especially Chris Pratt in titular part of Peter Quill, is both convincing and endearing. Michael Rooker as Yondu the kidnapper turned caring foster father brings in the right emotional touch and adds to the mirthful quotient too. Especially delightful is the scene when he and Racoon trapped by rebel Ravagers find a way out, to the tune of loud music set purportedly.

 Yes, the usual tropes are there too and when the film finally climaxes with more of the same, it does lose your attention in the concluding parts especially as the action seems to never end. Nevertheless, these guardians are not mindless some only a trifle quirky and Dave Bautista's Drax the Destroyer despite his loud guffaws endears himself to you with his cryptic humour. The Indian viewer might not be too happy with the emotional graph of the film and certainly, the franchise lovers are likely to love it a tad more. Yet those not so much clued in to Marvel comics too will find it a fair ride.