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- Though fans have a while to wait until Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, they get a chance to revisit these beloved MCU characters for the holidays. The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special is a reminder of how funny, badass and charming the Guardians can be. And a further reminder of that, fans can then take a look back at the movie that started it all with some more memorable quotes from Guardians of the Galaxy. These hilarious, touching, and epic lines show why these oddball characters have become so beloved to fans.
With Phase 1 of the MCU proven to be a massive success, Marvel was willing to take a lot more chances in Phase 2. Few people outside the hardcore comic book fans knew who the Guardians of the Galaxy were, but this band of interstellar misfits became household names thanks to their hilarious and exciting debut film.
Along with introducing the cosmic side of the MCU, Guardians of the Galaxy injected an irreverent sense of humor into the cinematic universe that has influenced many of the films that followed.
Updated on November 24, 2022 by Colin McCormick:
Though fans have a while to wait until Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, they get a chance to revisit these beloved MCU characters for the holidays. The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special is a reminder of how funny, badass and charming the Guardians can be. And a further reminder of that, fans can then take a look back at the movie that started it all with some more memorable quotes from Guardians of the Galaxy. These hilarious, touching, and epic lines show why these oddball characters have become so beloved to fans.
"Bit Of Both."
Peter Quill
While the Avengers can be counted on to save the day no matter what, the Guardians of the Galaxy are not as clean-cut when it comes to heroics. There are outlaws and criminals who have proven that they will do the right thing when called upon.
After helping to defeat Ronan and save Xandar, the Guardians prepare to head out on their next mission. Quill asks his teammates whether they should do some good or some bad before settling on a bit of both. It is a perfect indicator that these will not be the typical MCU heroes going forward.
"I Wasn’t Listening, I Was Thinking Of Something Else."
Drax
Part of the charm of the Guardians as a team is that they can never seem to get on the same page. Even with the galaxy in danger, they waste time debating over insignificant things and having oddly ordinary conversations.
When planning their final fight against Ronan, Drax brings up something that was just discussed. Unbothered, Drax simply admits that he wasn't listening because his mind was elsewhere. It is the kind of frustrating interaction a squabbling family might have rather than a band of cosmic heroes.
"Bunch Of Jackasses Standing In A Circle."
Rocket
Gunn's irreverent sense of humor is put to perfect use in subverting certain familiar tropes. Rocket as a character is particularly good at this, often pointing out how silly some of the typical heroics in these movies can be.
As the team decides to face Ronan, they each stand in turn, showing their commitment to the fight. It is a scene that fans have seen many times, so it is great to see Rocket point out how ridiculous and meaningless it is.
"I Am Going To Die...
...Surrounded By The Biggest Idiots In The Galaxy."
Gamora
James Gunn has always liked outcasts and unconventional heroes in his movies. Guardians of the Galaxy is no different, as these characters come together to make a far from a cohesive team. When their attempt to break out of prison becomes a chaotic feud, Gamora seems to recognize how dysfunctional this band of misfits really is.
It offers a fun alternative to other superhero teams. The unrefined nature of the Guardians is part of their charm and allows them a lot of room to evolve from the galaxy's "biggest idiots" to its guardians.
"When I Look Around You Know What I See? Losers."
Peter Quill
There are a lot of underdogs in the MCU, but the Guardians are a collection of these kinds of heroes. When Quill gives a motivational speech to the team, he acknowledges that they are not the typical kind of people who would be called upon in such a situation.
However, he also points out that they have all been brought together as misfits and formed some sort of dysfunctional family. It adds so much charm to these movies and promises an emotional goodbye in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
"What A Bunch Of A-Holes."
Denarian Saal
While the Avengers made for a dysfunctional group of heroes in their first film, the Guardians made them look like the picture-perfect team. Writer-director James Gunn seemed dead-set on making these heroes as far from the typical comic book superheroes fans are used to.
The famous police line-up scene introduces all the characters together as the Nova Corps gives us a little background. In an astute assessment, one of the Nova Corps calls them a bunch of a-holes. It's the perfect setup for the unlikeliest team of heroes.
"There's One Other Name You May Know Me By. Star-Lord."
Peter Quill
Chris Pratt was best known for his role as the lovable dummy Andy on Parks and Recreation when he was cast as Peter Quill, the leader of the Guardians. Pratt made an intense physical transformation into an action star while keeping his goofy humor intact.
An ongoing joke in the movie is that Quill wants to be called by his outlaw name, Star-Lord, but no one can seem to remember it. It's a funny way of showing what an unassuming hero he is while also setting up the touching reveal about where the name comes from.
"What's A Raccoon?"
Rocket
The entire team of the Guardians includes some of the most interesting characters in the MCU, but Rocket may be the most compelling of all. This talking raccoon is the result of illegal experimentation which has turned him into a bitter creature.
It's another recurring joke that Rocket keeps getting referred to as different animals. When Quill calls him a raccoon, Rocket gives a hilariously puzzled reaction and says, "What's a raccoon?" which just makes his backstory all the more interesting. It also sets up Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to finally delve into his origin.
"Nothing Goes Over My Head.
My Reflexes Are Too Fast, I Would Catch It."
Drax
Professional wrestler Dave Bautista was a surprising choice to play Drax the Destroyer in the film and shocked many people by knocking it out of the park. Perhaps most surprising of all was seeing how Bautista made Drax one of the MCU's funniest characters.
A lot of Drax's humor comes from the fact that he is completely literal. As Rocket explains, metaphors go over his head. Insulted, Drax earnestly responds, "Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it."
"Oh, I Was Just Kidding About The Leg."
Rocket
One of the most exciting sequences in the film is the Guardians' escape from their space prison. It is the first time we see the group working together, and it shows that they make a solid team while still being absolutely ridiculous together.
After Rocket lays out what he needs for the plan, Quill delivers the artificial leg from another prisoner he asked for. Rocket then admits he didn't really need the leg, he just thought it would be funny. He starts laughing hysterically while asking "What did he look like hopping around?"
"Peter, Take My Hand."
Meredith Quill
Given how fun and zany the rest of the movie is, the first scene of the film is a surprisingly devastating moment. Flashing back to Earth, viewers see a young Peter Quill saying goodbye to his dying mother before being abducted.
As Quill's mother slips away, she asks him to take her hand, but he is unable to. It is a moment that shows Quill's difficulty getting close to others. The moment comes back in the climax as Gamora tells Quill to take his hand as he holds the Power Stone and he sees a flash of his mother.
"You Said It Yourself, B**ch.
We're The Guardians Of The Galaxy."
Peter Quill
Armed with the Power Stone, Ronan the Accuser proves to be too much for the Guardians to handle. After seemingly defeating them, Ronan mockingly refers to them as the "Guardians of the Galaxy".
However, once the heroes get the stone from Ronan, Quill throws the insult back in his face. Not only is it one of the best instances of saying the movie title within the movie, but it also solidifies them as a team that should not be underestimated.
"We're Just Like Kevin Bacon."
Gamora
Quill was taken from Earth as a child, but he managed to hang onto a lot of the pop culture knowledge of the 1980s. This gives the film a fun charm and makes for some of the best jokes.
When trying to woo Gamora, Quill tells her of the Earth legend known as Footloose and the courageous hero known as Kevin Bacon. Though she doesn't seem to understand the point of the story, when they attack Ronan's ship, she confidently remarks, "We're just like Kevin Bacon." The joke gets brought full circle with Bacon appearing as himself in The Guardians Of The Galaxy: Holiday Special.
"If I Had A Blacklight...
...This Would Look Like A Jackson Pollock Painting."
Peter Quill
James Gunn's point of view is what gives this movie a lot of its charms and makes it feel so different than a lot of the other Marvel movies. He was also able to push the envelope in terms of humor more than any other Marvel movie.
One of the most memorable jokes comes when the Guardians are aboard Quill's ship. Gamora remarks that it is a mess and when she leaves, Quill suggests that it might be even more disgusting than she thinks. It is a surprisingly vulgar joke that some fans call one of the funniest quotes in the MCU.
"We Are Groot."
Groot
While the Guardians are pretty flawed characters overall, Groot seems to be the kindest member of the team. Though he is capable of taking on dozens of bad guys single-handedly, he seems to be a mostly peaceful creature even if he isn't the smartest being around.
When Ronan's ship comes crashing to the ground, Groot cocoons the others inside his body to protect them. When Rocket asks why he is sacrificing himself, Groot gives a slight variation to his usual line by saying, "We are Groot." Even though it doesn't make any more sense, it says a lot.