One of the surprise success stories out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been Guardians of the Galaxy. It was once thought would be Marvel’s first flop but quickly turned into a fan favorite. Without stumbling or hesitation, the studio took a band of misfits and turned them into characters we can’t get enough of.
So how did Marvel turn a human, talking tree, a gun-toting raccoon, and their alien sidekicks into an overwhelming success, twice?
2017 has no shortage of blockbuster movies to build on with titles such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Justice League on their way. Fans have already been treated to Hugh Jackman’s final performance of a fan favorite in Logan back in March. Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 has stiff competition in the hero world, but it distances itself from the pack.
When it comes to making your mark in movie history, buddy comedies will always have their place. From Stand By Me to The Sandlot, Tommy Boy to Superbad, and so many more pair two or more unlikely friends together and it almost always equals success. If you combine that with Marvel Studios genius behind the superhero wheel and no wonder the franchise was an instant success.
The first Guardians of the Galaxy film was the foundation to something much bigger. The on-screen debut of the dynamic team was built on the strength of its characters. The first GotG introduced us to the characters on an individual level. Most of the appeal came from meeting the characters, seeing them fail, then bringing them together in the most-hilarious way possible. Each character seemed tailor made to fit personality traits of friends viewers could relate to. From the lovable hero who’s pain, we felt to the wise-cracking raccoon who’s shenanigans had viewers cracking up made it hard not to love them. Even the one-liners provided by a former WWE superstar turned actor catapulted Dave Bautista (as Drax) to success. Every character in the film was perfectly cast with the right amount of lines at the right time proving Marvel once again could get blood from a stone.
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 upped the ante. Not only did we get more adventures from our favorite space heroes, viewers were pulled in more as to who these characters were based on their past as well. Vol. 2 takes the journey into relationships of their past and present and further shapes the dynamic of these unlikely heroes. Seeing the connections they have and the relationships they’ve forged often overshadows the adventure in the best way possible. Some critics blasted the film for not living up to the first but they couldn’t be more wrong. Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 digs deeper and builds the characters as heroes rather than a cast of characters who somehow accidentally beat the odds.
Just when fans thought they couldn’t get enough of the Guardians, they’re in luck as Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 has been announced. There’s no current timetable for production or release date. However, with a full slate of films to come, it’s highly unlikely we’ll get treated to it before 2020. As disappointing as that sounds, fans can still rejoice as Avengers: Infinity War(2018) promises to be the largest ensemble of heroes since Marvel began Phase One. With a movie of that size, there’s no doubt it will shake up the MCU and change the lay of the land forever. By the time the second film roles around, the Guardians ought to have a whole new universe to explore. Stay tuned Marvel fans, the fun has just begun.