I watched Predator: Guardians of the Badlands, which might not be the actual film title but it’s what I’m sticking with. Not a criticism, more expectation setting. If you go in hoping for Arnold in the Jungle you are going to be disappointed. If you instead recognize that there’s quite a bit of unexplored territory in the Predator/Alien/Blade Runner Weyland-Yutani universe and are open to new possibilities to dig into them, and also you enjoy Marvel MCU punchline supplemented action with a bit more space gore then it’s an enjoyable ride. Add this to storylines that have been introduced with Raised by Wolves and Alien: Earth and I’m pretty excited to see where they go with it, and perfectly comfortable with not every bit of story telling being dark and scary.
But seriously it’s got some GOTG similarities that I just have to address. Dek is Star Lord, massive daddy issues that go from wanting to prove himself and be welcomed in to realizing his dad is a dick and standing up to him in the end to be his own man. Thia/Tessa is Gamora/Nebula (and maybe Mantis), sisters with unclear conflicted allegiances ultimately choosing new friends over problematic family. Bud/Kalisk is Rocket/Groot, small and cute and unspeaking but tough as hell and grows up into even bigger more menacing character that everyone was afraid of but is actually just misunderstood and makes friends with / is aligned with the newly formed team against the big bad company.
That’s not so obvious while watching it, but afterwards if you think about it then it clicks. Again I did enjoy it, and I can see where this is a new chance to build on the existing story and pull in a new fan base and I’m totally cool with that. Keep telling me new stories about characters I’m already a fan of and I’m here for it, just so long as we don’t circle back to telling the same stories over and over again, just more watered down each time. Fuck a remake, keep expanding.