I Fooled Around and Fell in Love with this movie

Rating: 9/10 (19 October 2014)

Featuring a small-screen actor playing an unfamiliar character from a relatively obscure comic series, Guardians of the Galaxy is a fun, smart movie that proves that superhumans aren't necessarily the driving force behind the immense success of the comic book movie phenomenon. The storyline is as simple as could be: Chris Pratt's Peter Quill has a thing, everyone else wants the thing, hijinks ensue. This structural simplicity allows breakout director James Gunn to stuff Guardians full of crowd-pleasing characters, new and fantastic locations, and the promise of a successful new Marvel franchise.
Marvel certainly took a risk in making this movie; the obscure source comic provides nowhere near the amount of draw as successors such as Iron Man and Captain America. The company also stepped away from the somber tones of its recent movies; the lighthearted film is carried by a goofy, irreverent main character, who at one point refers to the main antagonist as a "turd blossom." Unlike many of his comic-book protagonist peers, Peter Quill is extremely believable, in large part because he is so undeniably human. With no super serum or super-computer enabled suit of armor, the character has nothing to hide behind. This human vulnerability makes him extremely attractive to audiences who are used to a sea of superhuman protagonists; Quill is no different than we are, and we love him for it.
As endearing as Quill's humanity is, Guardians makes sure that its nonhuman protagonists find their way into the audience's heart as well. This movie bravely takes on the challenge of introducing an entirely new cast of characters, and succeeds tremendously. All five Guardians are superbly casted, written, and acted; all members of the ensemble are given sufficient backstory and characterization to save them from relegation to sidekick status. In this movie, the ever-popular "band of misfits" concept manages to come across as a group of equals, rather than a group of misfits walking in the shadow of the protagonist. Digital effects are used to their highest potential, with two of the most lovable characters created out of CGI and motion-capture techniques.
Guardians of the Galaxy shies away from heavy social commentary, preferring instead to remain a lighthearted, entertaining summer blockbuster. There is no ambiguity as to who is the villain, or whether the protagonists motives are truly good. Guardians is a movie about a bunch of dorks saving the earth from a really bad guy. The main conflict is simple and easily digested, which actually works in the movie's favor. That is not to say that this film is brainless fluff; Guardians features characters who are relatable, likable, and most important, interesting. Unfortunately, several of the villains were underutilized. Karen Gillan's Nebula has mountains of unrealized potential, while Thanos, the most interesting villain, has the least screen time. This underutilization most likely results from the filmmakers' focus on making audiences fall in love with the characters who will make it into later movies.
Despite that small setback, Guardians of the Galaxy absolutely achieves what it sets out to do: introduce a new franchise with lovable protagonists, a fun and simple storyline, and a whole galaxy ready for exploration. The old-school soundtrack is superb; integrated into the storyline as a mixtape given to Peter Quill by his mother, it brings levity when needed while constantly reminding the audience of Quill's humanity. The CGI is well- executed, as are the post-production 3D effects. Most importantly, it is the likable characters and their chemistry as the Guardians that leave me hooked on a feeling, high on believing that this franchise is destined for great things.
Rating: 9/10 stars (Tenth star pending better utilization of the fantastic villains the filmmakers have at their disposal)