The cultural perception of video game movies was only just starting to heal whenBorderlandsburst into the room. Something about the iconic mix of gory violence and middle-school humor didn’t translate to the big screen. Most critics took time out of their reviews to point outBorderlands' lack of originality. The film doesn’t have much to deliver beyond jokes and set pieces that feel borrowed from better films. Almost every viewer mentions the film’s similarities to James Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxy.Borderlandsisn’t the first project to earn that comparison.
Superhero movies are technicallyrepresentatives of a genre, but almost every entry has a second genre attached. Everything fromCaptain AmericatoAvengers: Endgametakes inspiration from a selection of other projects to create something unique. Conversely, superhero movies tend to be the biggest projects at the box office, prompting many studios and creators to copy notes from whatever works. This is a double-edged sword. It might draw attention, but it also guarantees that most people have seen the thing it’s lightly ripping off.
Borderlandslooks likeGuardians of the Galaxy
TheBorderlandsmovie is about a ragtag bunch of colorful space criminals who come together under unexpected circumstances to acquire a legendary artifact. It communicates its action through sci-fi versions of familiar combat set pieces, generally with a healthy splash of added color and a soundtrack of old pop songs. It’s very reminiscent ofJames Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxy. Of course, most of those elements are present in a ton of other films, many of which came out long before 2014. The reasonBorderlandsattracted so many comparisons is more a matter of tone and presentation than it is of identifiable story choices. Things like the specific blend of comedy and action, the bright color palette that dominates most of the characters, and the snarky dialogue that leaves endless room for lazy gags stand out. These details draw attention, but their attachment to the wildly successfulGuardiansfranchise makes them seem cynical.Borderlandscan’t escape those claims, especially when it’s receiving hate for its lack of creativity elsewhere.
Other notable films likeGuardians of the Galaxy
Borderlandsisn’t the first film to earn comparisons toGuardians of the Galaxy. When the DC Extended Universe put outSuicide Squad, many saw it as their answer toGuardians of the Galaxy. Though most have forgotten it in favor of James Gunn’s far better second attempt, the original2016Suicide Squadfeelsa bit like a mirror universe take onGuardians. Where the Marvel entry is fun, poppy, endlessly charming, and built out of recognizable characters,Suicide Squadis a glum march into an unpleasant mess. It’s miserable, yet curiously bland. The constant pop song needle drops feel particularly lazy. The film famously went through several editing passes before it made it to the theater. It’s as if someone noticed that it wasn’t similar enough toGuardiansand slapped a few additional songs into the background. It’s a bad film, but its connections to Marvel’s much better film seem obvious. It’s ironic thatThe Suicide Squad, the film that shares a director withGuardians, feels a bit less cynical in its comparisons.
The other major recipient ofGuardians of the Galaxycomparisons wasDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. TheD&Dmovie is yet another ragtag bunch of criminals on a heroic heist to steal a powerful MacGuffin. While that film doesn’t have the all-important pop song soundtrack, it does have a very similar sense of humor. It also has a notably similar team composition to its competitors. It’s the classic five-man band trope, complete with fun gags for each important character.Honor Among Thievesseemedto be the only notable film to receive positive comparisons toGuardians. It’s usually an insult, but it stands here as a recognition of the RPG-esque elements of both works.
CouldBorderlandsbe the last of its kind?
Will anyone want to do this type of blockbuster again afterBorderlands? Probably. Other studios will almost certainly try this gimmick again. Any proven formula will find itself back in the spotlight. Bad entrieswash off familiar formatswithout leaving a stain. If anything, this could lead the next similar project to distance itself from the mold a bit.Borderlandsfeels extremely similar toGuardians, so much so that its few defenders acknowledge the connection alongside its most ardent haters. It’s just an unfortunate fact. Perhaps future examples of this kind of team-up action comedy will learn to find more ways to differentiate themselves.
Borderlandsmight still make a ton of money. Its biggest competitor at the box office isDeadpool & Wolverine, which has been available for a couple of weeks. While fans seem unhappy with the trailers and critics seem to despise the project, reviews rarely impact sales these days. Even if it’s bad,ifBorderlandsmakes money, it’ll probably inspire a few more knock-offs of everyone’s favorite sci-fi space comedy. The fate of future familiar films will rest onBorderlands’s shoulders. Fans could be listening to increasingly less awesome mixes for the next decade.
