Writer/Director James Gunn is mainly considered unknown in the Hollywood universe when compared to other Marvel directors like Joss Whedon or Jon Favereu. The only mainstream work he's known for are underrated films like Slither and Super. Everything else he's done were projects for Hollywood that were probably holding a gun to his head while he was in the writer's or director's chair. Examples? The live-action Scooby Doo and Movie 43 (which he won a Razzie for). Why does this make me respect Marvel more? Because they could be becoming the new United Artists. It was a company back in the golden ages of film that let directors show off their true line of work without Hollywood producers ever interfering with filming or final cut. It seems Marvel really wanted to become that likable company by first starting off by getting the writer of Swingers to direct the first Iron Man, starring America's most drugged up 90s star (back then) Robert Downey Jr. Since then, they have been on a role non-stop and here's the best result released by Marvel since... Captain America: The Winter Soldier earlier this year directed by the same directors of You, Me & Dupree. My point exactly. This time it's a Hollywood outcast writing and directing a movie of superhero outcasts that has most viewers relate to more than they could with Iron Man even.
The plot is pretty simple really. Our main character, Jason Quill (also known as Starlord) is after this orb which contains a weapon that could destroy worlds, which he wants to sell for money. After Starlord becomes a bounty target which introduces two more of our main characters, Rocket Racoon and Groot who try to capture him for bounty money while another main character, Gamora is also after the orb for another purpose we find out later. With that hilarious cluster fight happening, they all get arrested and have to figure out a way to escape jail with the help of our final main character introduced, Drax who's on the path for revenge against somebody that killed his family. That somebody of course is our main villain, known as Ronin who happens to be after the orb as well, who is pretty much the reason why our five main characters stick together for the rest of the movie.
The coolest thing about the rest of the movie is that the characters actually TALK and GET TO KNOW one another instead of just fighting and using cliche Hollywood dialogue as if we're supposed to care about the characters in that manner. I'm sure when James Gunn and his co-writer Nicole Perlman got their script green-lit by Marvel, I bet they were both like "FINALLY! A studio that reads and listens to what characters have to say instead of just do!". We really get to care for every character in just the way you see them interact, which makes the movie really hilarious too, which is why the action scenes are even funnier because of the build up through the character development. Starlord is the main human who lives in the past by listening to his old cassette tapes of old 70s and 80s jams on his Walkman. Gamora is unselfish in every way where she interacts with every character's plot and development and not just her own. Rocket and Groot provide great dialogue and genius charisma (which I'm sure was inspired by Han and Chewbacca from Empire Strikes Back). Drax also shows kind heart and interaction as well because his reveal at the beginning for lack of friends shows what can payoff when you have somebody fighting by your side.
You get to know the characters more than the plot itself which is why it can be GREAT build up for any Marvel sequels involving these five oddballs that go well together. They're really funny as well as they know exactly what to do when they work together instead of being trapped in their own selfish shield like most action characters. In fact, they actually show what happens to each character when one tries to make their own selfish shield and do their own shit them self without the other one's help, especially Drax. This is a perfect example of an ensemble piece because everybody is different, including the side villains and government agents of certain planets. They also have their own personalities and don't really fall under any stereotypical caricatures except maybe the main villain (Ronin) himself, which is my only problem with the movie if I had to pick one. Glenn Close provides great dialogue and plot only when needed and they don't give her an over the top introduction like they do with every Hollywood veteran to say they're in this movie, which is why we like her character even more. Double of that goes to John C. Reilly who's pretty much playing himself (which is NEVER a bad thing at all) as a government agent introducing each character when they're arrested at the very beginning and when the plot needs to expand to multiple environments. I'm sure Gunn and Perlman just wrote him last minute as a character to avoid any writers block, which every Hollywood action movie should do.
I will say again, I loved this movie more than any Marvel film to date. The characters are great. The action is really fun. The dialogue is spectacular and not just cliche filler. It gives you every reason to care about the characters which is why the friggin title is named after them. It also never has one dull moment because it moves subtly fast, which you don't get from many movies in today's world. I know the rating I'm gonna give it sounds crazy, but I honestly can't think of a single major reason not to.
****
Also P.S: the songs on the soundtrack to this also make it worth the price of admission alone as well.
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