The fun that I expected *Spoiler at the end*

Rating: 8/10 (11 August 2014)

So this is the film I've been waiting the whole summer for. Finally the Guardians of the Galaxy are here!! OK, so to be honest, I know little to nothing about them. I was a huge comic book nerd during my post- pubescent years and that includes the less iconic characters, but to be perfectly honest this is one of the stories I wasn't very familiar with. I found it somewhat odd that Marvel would choose such an obscure hero team to focus a movie on, but I found it refreshing after continuous iconic hero's such as Spiderman, Ironman and Captain America kept churning out redundant film after redundant film. Also, the first full trailer was pretty awesome.
I ended up going to the Saturday night showing of the movie to avoid the influx of nerdiness that can end up making the environment either very fun or a pain in the ass. The plot loosely related to some of the events that occurred in the first Avengers movie, but definitely stood on its own. The story revolved around Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) who comes across an orb that unbeknownst to him possesses one of the most powerful stones in the universe. While trying to pawn off the orb, he stumbles across a group of social outcasts that end up becoming the protectors of the known Universe.
The movie reminded me of a cross between Firefly and the rebooted Star Trek, which I realize Zoe Saldana is also in. The intergalactic social degenerates theme has been done before, but throwing in some pretty interesting characters made it come into its own.
Chris Pratt does a great job as Star Lord, and I was a fan of him being a lead since hearing he was casted for it. I was concerned about his look since I know him best as Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation, a tubby dimwitted Jack-of-all-trades, but he obviously took the part seriously and got into leading role shape. The real actor that drew me in was all CGI. A foul-mouthed, machine gun toting Raccoon named Rocket. That was enough to consider this a must-see and definitely didn't disappoint.
Director James Gunn held back no punches with the visuals creating some spectacular environments and colorful creatures that possessed average depth, but contained originality in super powers and intelligence. The only drawback I can think of is that there wasn't too much back story on any of the characters other than Peter Quill, but that would've definitely added an extra hour or two.
The one thing I will say was absolutely amazing and flawless was the movies soundtrack. It was based on a cassette tape called "Awesome mix Vol. 1″ which Peter's mom gave to him some time in the 80's. It contains some really awesome tunes from the 70's and 80's including Blue Swede's Hooked on a Feeling, Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky and one that's my current favorite, Redbone's Come and Get Your Love. It's so good I've been playing it since the movie came out.
Overall Grade: B+
WHAT??? WHY???? Before you bite my head off for this review, the only reason I give it a B+ is because of what I said earlier; it's been done before and there's nothing new or unique about it. It's still a fun and funny thrill ride of a movie, but there was nothing out-of-the-box about it. The characters are engaging and hilarious, even the very literal Drax the Destroyer. The visuals are incredible and the tongue and cheek approach to a superhero movie gives it a nice colorful comic book feel that some movies in the genre lack.
Look forward to laughing and enjoying a nice intergalactic movie that doesn't take itself too seriously and has a dope soundtrack.
*Spoiler coming up below. Do not read further if you do not want to know the ending credits*
OK, so the Howard the Duck cameo in the ending credits I think that's just a nod to another obscure Marvel character and not another Howard the Duck movie. I still think that the Howard the Duck movie was very underrated and one of the greatest films of all time ..I think.