Marvel Studios delivers its first space opera and what a great time it is! Director and writer James Gunn takes the corny charm of Flash Gordon, combined with the epic awe and technology found in the Star Trek franchise, added the unexplainable magic of the original Star Wars series and mixed it with his own quirky vision and engaging dialogue. The result is Guardians of the Galaxy. However this is no rip-off of other franchises, it simply borrows from our collective memories to create something totally new and uniquely entertaining.

Guardians of the Galaxy initially is the story of Peter Quill played by Chris Pratt (Moneyball, Parks and Recreation). An earth-born child of the 1980’s, who after experiencing the tragic loss of his mother is abducted by aliens and raised in space. Not much is made of his formative years, but it is clear that he has learned to survive with his quick wit and crafty nature. We next catch up with him 26 years later in an opening, title-card sequence that is equal parts Indiana Jones and Soul Train… and it works! James Gunn (Super, Slither) alerts you that this film knows what it’s trying to accomplish and dares you to not have fun with Quill on his adventure.

The plot is set in motion when Quill steals a rare artifact and takes it to the planet Xander to claim his prize money. Little does he know that two bounty hunters, Rocket and Groot (voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel respectively), have been sent to capture him. Meanwhile a mysterious assassin, Gamora, played by the engaging Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek) is after the artifact itself. A series of events leads them all to prison and this is where Gunn truly crystallizes what makes his film an original experience. This is not a team of do-gooders… In fact they aren’t a team at all. They all have agendas based on greed or self-advancement, which makes their interconnected relationships really pop off of the screen.

It would be easy to say that Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon steals the movie. However, rarely do you get a team-up movie where each character gets an equal opportunity to show their respective abilities, vulnerabilities and hubris. In addition, they have all experienced profound loss in their life, which has ultimately led them to become the scoundrels that they are.

The common loss of family and identity is what brings the crew together. They are all severely flawed individuals and each member jeopardizes the team because of that. However, Gunn and co-writer Nicole Perlman script each character to their fullest potential and everyone gets a clear and defined arc that feels rewarded by the time the credits roll.

This film simply should not work on paper. Gunn and Marvel prove that they might know what audiences want… more than the actual audiences themselves. This film is a part of the Marvel cinematic universe and it connects to the other movies in a smile-inducing way. But Gunn lets the story breathe on its own and it works simply as an excellent standalone story. Whether it’s his characters bantering on the bridge or taking part in heroic space-jet battles, the tone is always pitch perfect for each moment in unexpected ways. The action, dialogue, special effects, music selection and overall confident storytelling truly elevate this film into a level of fun that is rarely found at the cinemas. This movie will inspire the imaginations of millions of kids the way Star Wars has for previous generations. This is a Marvel movie to be heralded… a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Oh and wait to see what Rocket does with that prosthetic leg! What an awesome sequence!

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