“I Am Beau”

by Beau Smith

“I Am Beau.”

In last week’s session of Beauology 101, I mentioned the fun factor of the trailer for Marvel Studio’s latest release, Guardians Of The Galaxy, and the effect that it had on me. It made me feel like I was 12 years old again.

“Guardians Of The Galaxy.”

This past weekend, my wife, Beth and I went to see Guardians Of The Galaxy. Rarely do I attend a film on release day, just because I don’t enjoy crowds. I may seem like an extrovert in print, but trust me, in reality, I’m a very keep to myself kinda guy. Hard to believe, eh? Ask those closest to me and they’ll tell you.

Let me explain something else, Beth is not a pop culture person. You can ask her even the most commonly known pop culture questions and she will have no idea what you’re talking about. I, on the other hand, am filled with so much useless pop culture information it borders on embarrassing. I guess that’s why we’ve been married for so long. I like the fact that I don’t have to talk about my job or what story I’m working on with her at the end of the day. I’m not much on reliving work after it’s done. I’m happy to sit and listen to her talk about her day and her work. It’s my escape into the real adult world for a little bit. Of the hundreds of comic book stories that I’ve written, Beth has maybe read two; Cobb, which she loved and understood, and Wynonna Earp which she didn’t and also thought was just weird.

Being a good wife, Beth has gone with me to see some pop culture heavy movies from time to time. She went with me to see The Avengers. She was prepared not to understand or like it. She had her Kindle packed as well as her phone geared up for some audio stuff. Surprising to her, she never hauled them out of her bag. She really liked The Avengers. That set her up to go to see Guardians Of The Galaxy.

The opening of the film had her. She thought she had dropped into one of her all-time favorite films, Terms Of Endearment. She was stoked that she was going to see a warm, fuzzy, weepy, emotionaly draining, tragic-laced film of sadness. (She really likes sad, tragic movies.) I have to admit, I was worried. I thought to myself, “Awww, crap, what have I gotten myself into here?”

Then the film cuts to the main character, Peter Quill/Star Lord as an adult, many years later, happily creature-kicking his way to stealing the mysterious Orb, using the 1974 top ten song, “Come Get Your Love” by Redbone. Beth was confused and I was elated. (Not because she was confused, but because this was a scene I would’ve written and smiled while I was doing it.)

This scene set the feel of the film for me. I knew I was going to have a great time. I also knew that the film was going to lose Beth.

I wasn’t familiar with Chris Pratt before this film. I’ve only seen a couple of episodes of Parks And Recreation on TV, and like The Office, it never appealed to me. (Sorry, we all can’t like the same thing.)

The introduction to all the main characters of Guardians Of The Galaxy was a great textbook on how to intro characters and hook the viewers/readers. Nothing was wasted and you weren’t bogged down with needless stuff. I will say, I went into this thinking that I was not going to like the character of Rocket (Bradley Cooper). I’m not a funny animal kinda guy. I was never crazy about the comic book version of Rocket either. I was way beyond surprised. I’ve seen Bradley Cooper in a lot of films, funny and serious, but nothing prepared me for what he was able to do with this role. He was amazing. If he ever decides to give up on screen acting for voice over work, then he will be the next Mel Blanc. Cooper’s acting as Rocket was brilliant. This role really showed off his talent and acting chops. You think about what he was able to do with his voice and the range of emotions and subtle mannerisms, well, it’s amazing. It was all enhanced with some of the best CGI character work I’ve ever seen. The Raccoon character was seamless; it meshed the borders of reality and fantasy perfectly. Casting knew just what they were doing.

Professional wrestler, Dave Bautista, was another HUGE surprise as the character Drax. Again, I went in expecting wooden acting. After all, Dave Bautista has never really done any film acting before, and here he was given a lot of screen time; not just action, but acting face time. The part was written perfectly for him and he didn’t let anyone down. He showed emotion, rage, quiet moments, and his dialogue was written to make his character individual and not just a grunting brute. He had some of the best lines in the film.

Most of you who enjoy action and sci-fi films know who the lovely actress, Zoe Saladana is. Star Trek, Avatar, The Losers, and Colombiana are just some of the films she has starred in. Saladana is top notch as the adopted daughter of the villain, Thanos. She was bred to be a living weapon, and in this film as the character, Gamora, she sure shows off her athletic skills. She also shows her range as the character is able to move from revenge to understanding trust in others. I recently read an interview with Saladana and she was asked the question of why she did so many action and sci-fi movies. She answered that she really enjoys them and that not enough critics realize the emotion and story within sci-fi and action films, and that they should really try and look a little closer. I agree with her 100%.

Vin Diesel is given a most daunting task as an actor in this. He is basically given three words to say throughout the entire movie—“I Am Groot.” As the character, Groot, Diesel is able to endear the character to everyone with just those three words. His use of them in various situations is masterful. Again, with CGI, the character Groot gives the audience a very wide range of emotions that other actors would never be able to pass on to the viewers.

As I mentioned last week, there isn’t much comic in the current landscape of comic books. If you want to see the Vertigo version of comic books, go see the gloomy film LUCY. The recent films from Marvel Studios have shown what comics used to be and could be again. DC Comics and their movie counterparts should take Guardians Of The Galaxy as their blueprint to what they need to be doing. I’m not talking slapstick; I’m talking about human emotion, humor, action and likablility! Guardians Of The Galaxy delivers in spades (and I don’t mean shovels).

This movie has humor and heart. The dialogue is delivered at a rapid pace like that of fabulous, smart films of the 1940s such as His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, and other Cary Grant films that showcased witty dialogue and character. Guardians Of The Galaxy reminded me so much of the great Stan Lee and Jack Kirby issues of The Fantastic Four in the 60s where there was appeal to the wider range of an audience, 8 to 80; a perfect blend of emotion, action, humor, and excitement. There’s a moral compass to Guardians Of The Galaxy that there isn’t in most mainstream comic books today. I always thought comic books would be the vessel that would show Hollywood how to do comic books, but I was wrong. Hollywood is showing comic books how to do their own character the right way.

The reason I enjoyed this film so much is writer/director James Gunn. He produced one of those rare occasions where I watched something and it was like he pulled it right out of my head from my “Here’s what I would like to see” brain cell. James Gunn GOT what mainstream comics should be. He was able to weave the threads of action, humor, emotion as well as good vs. evil into a wonderful fabric that we are all happy to try on. He showed us all what heart and soul can be with comic book characters. He allowed me to relive the excitement of being a 12 year old again within the experience of an adult. That is a rare feat these days.

My personal thanks go out to James Gunn.

SPOILER:

I had a lot of favorite moments in Guardians Of The Galaxy, too many to list, but one that I will select was one that dealt with the main villain, Ronan. Lee Pace did very nice work portraying nearly invincible evil, not in the mustache twirling variety, but in that of a conquering, Attila-like being that will not stop until his mission is completed. A very serious villain that spouts dialogue that borders on that of almost cliché at times, but always stops just short of parody. Towards the end of the film, in the final showdown between Ronan and The Guardians come toe to toe, Ronan is about to lower the boom on the planet when Peter Quill/Star Lord starts….dancing. A very surprising and humorous moment that truly only Chris Pratt can pull off. Ronan, who as I mentioned has been stone cold serious throughout this whole movie, freezes in utter weary, frustration and asks “What are you doing?” Lee Pace’s delivery of that one line is so dead on with what a ultimate bad guy, in his moment of villainous glory, must feel, it was just priceless. A small moment, yet so perfect. James Gunn had to have been smiling when he wrote that scene. That’s what feeling a character is all about.

I was thrilled to see one of my favorite character actors, Gregg Henry in the film. Granted, he is only in the beginning of the film, but he is always a pleasure to see on the screen. Great actor. I just want to throw in that Michael Rooker is a blast as Yondu. He plays the cutthroat so well and at the same time there is a bit of likability to the character that really shows, especially in his final scene in the film. The smile says it all.

The film is filled with a great soundtrack that tips its hat to the 1970s in a way that’s smart, not cliché. You’ll enjoy how it is an important part of the film and its heart.

This film is about friendship and family. The film takes the core of a good western, throws it into a space setting, and does it right. The bad guys are coming to town and it’s up to the almost good guys to save it.

Camaraderie: A feeling of good friendship among people in a group. Guardians Of The Galaxy is that and so much more.

P.S.

As for my wife, Beth….she didn’t like it. She said it had some witty lines, but there was no story to it and little emotion. (She ain’t happy with a movie unless everybody is crying.) Give her The Notebook every time.

My only dislike isn’t so much about the movie, but about the villain Thanos. Like the actors Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Marilyn Monroe, Thanos is over-rated. (Let the hate mail begin.)
🙂

So if you’re looking for FUN, go see Guardians Of The Galaxy. Remember, FUN is not to be confused with SILLY. Silly is bad. FUN is good.

I Am Beau.

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