Marvel needed a win. They have been on a losing streak. If judging from the Marvels trailer , this might be the last Marvel movie worth a shit, and the best one since "No Way Home". It works in the ways that the last Ant-man movie tried , but fell flat. The High Evoluntionary The glue that held it together above all was the served as a better Kang than Majors for sure. The effects did not make you feel like you were in a video game most of the time. It's strongest suit was the chemistry of the actors who have settled into their roles until they now fit like second skin. Perhaps this is why the depiction of Adam Warlock felt so awkward. It lacked the gravity of his comic persona. In future movies perhaps he is going to grow into who he really is , it seems like a common Marvel problem they do not know how to write some one at full power because they feel it makes them not relatable, or in this case plays into the humor of the franchise, Adam Warlock came from a time when the Guardians were not played for laughs, so if the series continues with a new team as hinted, is that a dynamic that is going to work?
The bulk of the movie plays like a comedy when we are not focused on Rocket's back story. Back stories are an odd way to say goodbye , but that is where the writing went and the made the most of it. Knowhere gained more sense of what it is, which could work in moving things forward. But why make any theories on it as most of the fan theories on this one got flushed down the toilet. The lack of death, means the stakes really could not be any lower. A few character who have died in the comics , could have come back in their more powerful forms, thinking Mantis and Drax, but contracts have come to an end, so why keep those doors open? It is also one of the movies with the less than essential mid credits scene which seems more obligatory.
One of my common complaints is the MCU often makes up characters when they could have pulled from the bench of second and thirds string characters , this happens again, though the inclusion of Howard the Duck in one scene shows how they could make the most of the rich layers of mythology the comics hold. Not Howard's first appearance but it worked well here. Fans of the franchise are going to have fun in this film, as it balanced out the humor, action and heavy dramatic depth, by digging into the emotions of the character , by really letting us get to know them before saying goodbye. Much better than the second film, which felt a little flat to me. So enjoy this win while it lasts, as James Gunn takes his winning combination to DC
