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).

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CliqueClack has partnered with Marvel Studios to offer readers in Baltimore, DC and Virginia Beach an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new sci-fi action movie Guardians of the Galaxy starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime Rael and Benicio Del Toro as The Collector.

An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits — Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand — with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

The screenings will take place on Tuesday, July 29, at the following locations and times:

• 7:30 PM, Regal Majestic, 900 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring, MD
• 8:00 PM, AMC White Marsh, 8141 Honeygo Blvd, White Marsh, MD
• 7:30 PM, Regal Columbus, 104 Constitution Dr, Virginia Beach, VA

A limited number of passes are available on a first come, first served basis. To download your free passes, go to the SeeItFirst website and enter the code for your location:

• Silver Spring — 806749
• White Marsh — 699424
• Virginia Beach — 333054

Passes are extremely limited. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Please note that passes do not guarantee seats at the screening. Seating is first come, first served so plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes distributed, and is not responsible for seating arrangements at the theater. CliqueClack is not distributing passes for this screening. No comments will be accepted on this post.

Guardians of the Galaxy opens in theaters August 1.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LIQ2-PZBC8

Marvel is either really worried about Guardians of the Galaxy or totally gung ho. You really can’t forgive them for being slightly worried since the movie is based on one of their lesser known comics series filled with characters who aren’t Iron Man, Thor, Captain America or any of the other Avengers. So what better way to get the public excited about the movie than to present 17 minutes of the film at a special IMAX 3D screening?

What it does have is the vilain Thanos, whom we got the briefest of glimpses of at the end of the first Avengers movie but has been missing in action ever since. But Thanos will be the big bad of Guardians of the Galaxy as voiced by Josh Brolin. The film also has Chris Pratt, the unlikeliest of actors to play a Marvel hero, but we’ve all seen his new, buff physique so he’s actually pretty perfect for the role with his ability to play the dim but likable hero.

The special preview introduced us to Peter Quill (Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the adopted daughter of Thanos, Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel), a walking, talking tree which only says, “I am Groot.” Peter, Gamora, Rocket and Groot are prisoners being transported to The Kyln, a space prison. The prisoners already know Gamora and her connection to Thanos, and are eager to exact some justice on her.

The main gist of the preview was the big escape of the four convicts, aided and abetted by Drax. The scene was full of amazing visuals, from the design of The Kyln to the various inmates, and some very funny dialog. Where there was a bit of humor in the past Marvel movies, it’s clear that Guardians of the Galaxy will lean more towards the comedic side. Peter, aka Star-Lord, is just a funny character with his dim-bulb characteristics, so the humor comes out of him naturally.

The real stars of the preview, and one is to assume they will be the film’s breakout stars overall, are Rocket and Groot. When it was announced two of the characters were a talking raccoon and a talking tree, most people felt that Marvel was taking a huge risk and might see their first stumble. But Groot, even with his limited vocabulary, was pretty funny because of the inflection of his voice (and Rocket has the ability to translate those three words into full sentences). And even though Vin Diesel is doing the voice, it really doesn’t sound a whole lot like him. He really won me over.

Rocket, as voiced by Cooper having a great time, completely steals the show. The CGI character, played by director James Gunn’s brother in a motion capture suit, is fully realized and Cooper gives him a real personality. Rocket isn’t actually a raccoon, but a genetically engineered creature from another planet who just happens to look like an earth raccoon, and he has kind of a Brooklyn-ese way of speaking. He’s also clearly the leader of the group and the one who hatches the escape plan to get the group off The Kyln. And he gets little help from his compatriots who nearly manage to screw it all up, but all of the character elements and Gunn’s direction make this scene work like a charm.

The rest of the preview was basically an extended trailer giving us very quick glimpses of other characters including Lee Pace’s Ronan the Accuser, Benico Del Toro’s The Collector (introduced at the end of Thor: The Dark World), John C. Reilly’s Rhomann Dey, and Thanos … well, his arms. I supose they still want to keep Thanos under wraps, but if you’re going to hold a special preview for the die hard fans, you might want to give them just a little more Thanos. A minor quibble, however.

The preview was introduced by Gunn, explaining that the film had been reformatted for the IMAX presentation (it’s also been post-converted to 3D), and it looked stunning. No surprise. The image was sharp and colorful, and even the 3D was pretty immersive. This is definitely one film that looks like it will be worth the couple of extra bucks to spring for the full IMAX presentation. Marvel might be a little worried by audience unfamiliarity with the characters (and may be sweating bullets over the failure of the summer’s other original sci-fi action film Edge of Tomorrow), but after seeing the preview — and being totally unfamiliar with the characters myself — it’s safe to say they have nothing to worry about.

Guardians of the Galaxy promises to be the summer’s biggest thrill ride.