In 1988, somwhere in Midwest USA - a young Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) watches his mother succumb to an unknown disease in a shabby hospital. While this will remind you of the origins story of many superheros, the story takes a sharp turn when the boy, only minutes later, is abducted by an alien ship. When years later a grown up Peter steals what looks like a harmless round artefact, while cutting his abductors/ now fellow thieves out of the deal, it gets him on the most wanted list of some shady characters. Cue Rocket the modified Racoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), his muscle the tree-alien Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) and victim turned assassin Gamora (Zoe Zaldana). Thanos (Josh Brolin) and Ronin (Lee Pace) are radicals aiming to destroy half the Galaxy due to his fury at a recent peace treaty. When all of them get thrown into jail for a public brawl in which everyone tried to get a hand on Peter – or Starlord, a nickname that much to his disappointment doesn’t catch on – they are joined by Ronan (Dave Bautista) whose family was incidentally killed by Drax.

Many of the conversations feel more authentic than in many other movies who try hard to stay realistic and down to earth, despite the fact that it takes place between an alien and a genetically modified racoon. Many of the one-liner will make you laugh out loud. The best part of the movie has to be the soundtrack. While 70s Rock might sound out of place for a futuristic movie, it is so well timed, it seamlessly fits into this chaotic world with its morally very ambiguous characters. It also serves to make clear that the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is supposed to be fun and ridiculous, much like many of the songs. The actors play well in this semi-serious atmosphere. While the implied romantic subplot between Gamora and Peter doesn’t really seem to fit into the story, their interactions are fun to watch. Like most comic adaptions, the movie could have used more female characters in main roles to shake it up a little. Most women in Guardians are side characters with few lines.

Admittedly there are a few plotholes – some of which might be explained in the potential sequel – and clichés I personally could do without. Furthermore the world in which this all takes place could also do with a bit more explaining. We know next to nothing about the apparent government Nova Corps, or what role Earth and its inhabitant play in the Galaxy. Likewise isn’t too much of the characters backgrounds explored, which would admittedly be hard to do with such a big ensemble without taking up most of the movie. Nevertheless, the positive point mentioned before definitely make this movie worth watching.

Chances are, we will probably get a Guardians of the Galaxy sequel before we finally get a Wonder Woman movie, but out of all the way to kill time until then, watching this movie might be one of the best.