Guardians of the Galaxy is another big win for Marvel Studios

It hasn’t been since 2011’s Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger that Marvel has introduced a franchise to their cinematic universe. When Guardians of the Galaxy was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2012 (its sequel was likewise announced at this year’s show), casual comics fans across the country – including myself – scratched their heads and collectively said, “Who?” Two years later, the titular a-holes might just carry Marvel to their most successful franchise launch since Iron Man.

Each of the Marvel franchises have lived in their own genres: Thor is a space opera, Cap has been both a classic World War II film and a brilliant modern take on the 70’s spy thriller. Guardians is something different altogether: an action-comedy (or comedy-action?) flick that is as much a distant cousin to something like Spaceballs than something that feels like it fits in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. On first glance, it barely does fit … we only see perhaps three characters already established in the films, and those only in passing. Guardians’ – and it’s sequel’s – relevance will probably grow post-Avengers 2, but no one outside of Marvel knows for sure.

What we do know, however, is that Guardians of the Galaxy is one hell of a flick. The casting was great from top to bottom; I was impressed by Chris Pratt – whose ability to lead a film of this size I definitely doubted – as Peter Quill and Lee Pace as the story’s primary antagonist Ronan the Accuser. Stealing the show, however, were Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon and Vin Diesel’s Groot – though admittedly it was Groot’s animators who might have done the best work in the entire production. Director James Gunn – a rumored replacement for Joss Whedon on Avengers 3 should the former choose to leave the franchise after the second installment – proved that he is more than capable and entirely at home in the MCU.

You can’t talk about Guardians without addressing the music. Tyler Bates’ score was very good, but it was the 70’s pop-culture laden soundtrack that – in many ways – defined the film. The music is actually relevant – tangentially – to the plot, as Quill’s “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” and Walkman are among the last things he has from his childhood on Earth. Gunn included everything from the now iconic “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede to a personal favorite of mine “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes. While you might own a couple of these tracks, you will feel the need to download the soundtrack on the drive home from the theater.

One of the best parts about of watching Guardians is looking for all the cameos and the familiar actors in smaller roles. Everyone from James Gunn’s brother Sean (Kirk!) to Rob Zombie to Nathan Fillion can be seen (or heard) in the film if you’re paying close enough attention. Also, there’s the allure of some of the things this film did. Did anyone think that ten years ago, anyone would have imagined a world where John C. Reilly used the phrase “100% Dick” in conversation with Glenn Close in a Marvel comic book movie? I think not.

Marvel Studios took a big chance on Guardians, but it is a risk that is going to pay off big. The film is beautiful to watch, has a breakout character or two in Rocket and Groot, and delivers the funny in a way I never really expected from Marvel (I thought Joss’ Avengers were going to be closest to pure comedy that we would see in the MCU, but this takes the cake). The movie also features two of my favorite mid-and-post-credit sequences in the series’ history. Neither are particularly relevant in the greater story scheme, but are sure to bring more smiles to audiences’ face (admittedly, the press screeners did not include the final sequence, but it has leaked online at this point).