Surprisingly entertaining

Rating: 9/10 (24 September 2014)

Note ahead: although I am a huge fan of Marvel comics an consequent (recent years) movies, when I saw the preview, I though this would be a disaster. An enraged raccoon and a tree like creature saying only one thing (his name)? Oh boy! But this movie was not at all what I expected. It was very entertaining, with touching characters all with a unique background and depth delivering all the way. Every one of the character has its issues and to first order, it does not seem like they would be forming the right brew of individuals for a team "saving the galaxy". An assassin, a destroyer, an enhanced raccoon and a humanoid tree end to be loosely led through and unlikely bound of friendship and realization of a commonality by the character of Peter Quill aka Star Lord. The dynamic was great, the acting superb for characters which were difficult to embody in the first place.
The movie is full of humor and avoids getting you bored with cliché. A scene may start and feel like it will go toward a common lecturing between two characters but aborted by a "yeah yeah!" and a gun shot. Seems trivial and simple minded but this is just one example (don't want to provide spoilers) that this film is not following the standard framework for the genre, does not take itself that seriously and as a result, is highly entertaining (actually, you probably would have liked to shoot yourself to stop the boring lecturing, wouldn't you?). Some parts and explanation are a bit under-developed (not sure what made the end possible still) but I did not mind. I was equally surprised by the awesome graphics, visual effects and spectacular fast moving and well executed fight scenes.
From start to end, I was totally taken by this flick as the dynamic and balance between dialogs & actions was well done and extremely well executed. It was captivating, not pretentious or over-serious, full of humor and overall a great fun. Go see it and judged by yourself (I may go and watch it again if in 3D).