"Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy has become a bit of a summer phenomenon. Perhaps it is due in part to a poverty of decent film-fare (as the media seems to want to stress), but it is also due to the fact that it is a good entertainment. It relies a little bit on reference humor, but it also has moments of true wit. It also uses its eighties references and music to supply its emotional and dramatic weight, but that is done so well who can really complain?

Perhaps it is due to the fact that I fit squarely into the target demographic for this movie, but it is shaping up to be my favorite film of the year so far. Sometimes you simply want a fun story and exciting, creative imaginary world building. That being said, this film does have its messages, even if they feel cliché and trope-y.

All of our heroes in this film are loners who have legitimate reasons for hating the rest of the world. It is their decisions to come together and fight for something other than themselves that gives them the power—and luck/providence—to defeat the evil force that is threatening to destroy an entire galactic empire. As I said, cliché, but there is a reason such clichéd storylines persist and strike chords with us over and over again. There is truth at their core.