"You're welcome."
That was the official tagline on the posters of Guardians of the Galaxy, and after watching the movie, I can't argue with Marvel Studios as I am very much inclined to thank them for giving me an awesome time at the movies.
James Gunn's Guardian of the Galaxy is arguably Marvel Studio's most enjoyable film since 2012's The Avengers. A lot may have seen it as a big risk for the studio as the property is largely unkown outside of the comic book crowd, but from the very first trailer, the movie showed that it might just be something special. It created hype and ultimately fulfilled it. All the praises you've heard about it are probably true.
Like the other Phase 2 movies before it, Guardians of the Galaxy is more on the comedic side. The comedy works well for the most part. The humor may be a bit off some times in the movie (as it was for me), but when it works, they really do nail it. A lot of it is because of the adorable character that is Groot, the often clueless Drax, and the legendary Star-Lord himself.
On the technical side of things, the movie's visuals and its music were astounding. I highly recommend seeing the movie in IMAX 3D as it will be worth every penny. The way they presented space and all its cosmic beauty is a marvel in and of itself, and of course it has that one beautifully enhanced sequence. The music they used for the movie was really inexplicably fitting and made the movie feel more relaxing.
But perhaps the film's greatest strength lies on its simplicity. The movie chooses to tell a good story rather than chase complexity and risk losing focus. Its simplicity allows the movie to convey its beauty in a rather straightforward way. It's a blockbuster that radiates fun and excitement and never attempts to insult its audiences' intelligence. It doesn't delve too much into the psyches of its characters to the point that we know what makes each of them tick, but does just enough to for us to be invested enough on the characters, although there are some that really end up being underplayed. But of course, the movie does have a lot of great and memorable moments. One emotionally powerful scene that surprisingly packed quite a whallop and beautiful visuals comes into mind.
VERDICT:
Opting to rely on simplicity and smartly playing its characters' strengths, Guardians of the Galaxy doesn't disappoint. Filled with spectacular visuals, spectacular music, and irresistible humor, the movie keeps the viewers wanting more as Marvel Studios bombards us with yet another explosive extravaganza and proves that there ain't no mountain high enough for them. This is Star Wars for a new generation and only further enriches the canon of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Overall, I give the movie a well-deserved 9 out of 10.
Bring on the sequel! Oh, and thank you, Marvel!