Guardians of the Galaxy is a fun film. It masterfully mixes a great amount of humor with appropriate levels of drama and action. Fans of the comic series on which this film is based will tell you that is no surprise, for that same mix of humor, drama, and action also characterizes the comic series. The thing that best helped the Guardians successfully leap to the big screen was the way music was used in the film to create a light-hearted mood in which humor is well-received.
Guardians of the Galaxy is not the first Marvel film in which prominently featured pop music sets the tone for the film and offers viewers an invitation to respond emotionally. (For more on that concept, I highly recommend Kutter Callaway’s book Scoring Transcendence.) Iron Man is another example of this use of music in a Marvel film. It opens with a scene of Tony Stark riding through the Iraqi Desert set to AC/DC’s “Back in Black.” This style of hard rock music that accompanies most of Tony Stark’s appearances in Marvel films actually becomes his primary leitmotiv. This music represents Tony’s apathetically belligerent attitude towards life. Whenever we see Tony Stark and hear the music of AC/DC, Black Sabbath, or Metallica, we are being invited to feel a certain way about him. The music helps us to understand his emotions and intentions and to feel them ourselves.
In a similar vein, Guardians of the Galaxy utilizes popular music of the 60’s and 70’s to represent the main character Peter Quill’s (played by Chris Pratt) more positive attitude toward life. The songs on his “Awesome Mixtape Vol. 1” capture feelings of warmth, love, and carefree nostalgia.
Peter himself embodies these same attitudes. From the first moments we see him as the adult hero Star-Lord, the mystery and wonder of an abandoned alien landscape is quickly swept away by the upbeat sounds of Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love.” Instantly the mood changes, as does our perception of his character. We know not to take Star-Lord (or the rest of this film) too seriously. Almost every time the mood starts to get too heavy in this film, another song from Peter’s “Awesome Mixtape Vol. 1” comes in and lightens the mood. No one – not even the super villain Ronan during the final battle – is immune to the insatiable power of music to alter the mood of a situation.
Throughout the film, other songs from the mixtape continue this mood-altering trend – songs like Rupert Holmes’ funky “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” and Blue Swede’s blissful, soaring anthem “Hooked On A Feeling” (which was also unconventionally featured in the film’s original trailer). The juxtaposition of these familiar songs against the sprawling, unfamiliar backdrop of space reminded me of how WALL•E used “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” to a similar effect in its opening number, as Kutter Callaway elaborates in Scoring Transcendence. As in WALL•E, the pop music in Guardians of the Galaxy provides a level of human familiarity amidst the unfamiliar setting of space.
This music also functions as a way for Peter to stay emotionally connected with his mother. She had given this collection of her favorite songs to him as a way for him to always remember her. I appreciated the fact that this emotional, connective power of music was touched on in this film, but I wish that Guardians would have explored this concept even further.
Peter’s music is also a way for him to simply relax and enjoy life. This joyful attitude towards life is at the heart of Guardians of the Galaxy. I feel that the church could benefit from an infusion of this positive, relaxed attitude. Too often Christians in the church are guilty of focusing on matters like dogma, doctrine, and decrees (and three-point sermons that rely on alliteration). Those things are important, but if they become the sole focus for the church then something is wrong.
The church should take a cue from Peter Quill and embody joy. Joy is at the heart of Christianity. Joy is a common theme of the apostles’ letters that comprise the New Testament. They knew that it should be the natural result of our living like Christ taught us to live. 1 Peter 1:8 says: “Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” Qoheleth reminds us in Ecclesiastes 8:15: “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” Joy is at the heart of who we are as Christians. It’s a feeling worth getting hooked on.
You might also enjoy these reviews of Guardians of the Galaxy
Reel Gospel
Christianity Today
Steven D. Greydanus
Josh Larsen
Kevin Nye’s Reel Spirituality Review
Elijah Davidson’s Reel Spirituality Review
