Guardians of the Galaxy 2014 revisited

The Avengers was such a bullseye, that I had all the trust in the world for more MCU ensemble team-ups.  I don't want Star Wars in the MCU, & yet I love GOTG as Star Wars in the MCU.  Perhaps not surprisingly more intimate than The Avengers, as ensemble action flick, all its characters & planet locations are fresh & enjoyable.  Re-watches only help this movie, & my tepid response to its sequel have left this one even more impressionable.  
The cast is all great & most importantly, their chemistry is hilariously outstanding.  Think Infinity War, after NYC is sieged by Thanos' minions... the jump to space with this band is a welcome changeup.  This group is comfort food with a capital pint of beer & 3 servings of Buffalo wings.  
When cosmic storylines were on the horizon, I honestly had doubts - because cosmic comics have always & forever been mind bending abstracts for me.  That they went humour & levity was a huge plus.  Ronan the Accuser set in the wrong tone might've been a major hard decline.  So what if it comes down to a dance off, that's where we are & I like it.   
Thanos' first speaking moment in the MCU obviously could've been more memorable & eventful... & yet he's immediately intertwined in MCU cosmic, with subtle nods to where the Infinity Saga was headed.  
I'll say that GOTG is maybe more re-watchable than The Avengers, with lower stakes & more accessible humour... though I still have The Avengers & its iconic significance ever so slightly ahead.  

My MCU favs:
1. Avengers: Age of Ultron
2. Avengers: Infinity War
3. Captain America: Civil War
4. Avengers: Endgame
5. Captain America: The First Avenger
6. The Avengers
7. Thor: Ragnarok
8. Guardians of the Galaxy
9. Ant-Man
10.Iron Man