Losers Win

Rating: 8/10 (6 May 2017)

This movie is amazing on so many levels.
Fun. Just an entertaining film. Great music, story telling and dialogue. The humor will not be for everyone. You have to give yourself over to the absurdity of a walking, semi-talking tree or a small mammal that love guns. But once you do, you're in for a good time.
Characters. They grow and develop which is the mark of any great film. Everyone has flaws. All of them, and especially the leader, Star Lord, are so "awkward" and so "human." They experience defeat. But in the end (spoiler alert), they come together, believe in each other and win.
Favorite scene: Star Lord's big inspirational speech to the team which starts out, "I see a bunch of losers."
Sacrifice. It's not all fun and games. (Another spoiler alert!) In a powerful scene of sacrificial love, Groot gives himself up at the end, wrapping the team in a protective ball made out of himself. (Groot, a tree-like character, interweaves branches of himself to shield everyone from a deadly crash).
Is there any better expression of love? (If you know the scene, you know how amazing Groot's final words are!) For anyone who knows what it is to feel like you don't belong or feel awkward, but who also longs for true friendship, this is a good story to go see.
Looking forward to Vol. 2. Go Guardians!
Overall Score: 8 out of 10.