This movie walks a fine line between funny and light, and darkly serious. And most of the time it works. The music, action, and character building are easily the highlights of the film, far outstripping several previous MCU entries. The rich color palette and gorgeous visualization of deep space are a wonder to behold and worth the price of admission alone. The main issues with the film are about tone, with characters cracking jokes while dark or disturbing things happen just before or afterward. Beyond that, however, it’s a fun misfit adventure with occasional sincerity.

Closest comparison: It’s the crazy, silly, irreverent ‘youngest child’ of the MCU.

Setting: Gritty Sci-Fi
Plot: Adventure
Tone: Comedy