Space for improvement

Rating: 5/10 (24 January 2015)

A fresh installment into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Guardians of The Galaxy" is a fun adventure featuring an interesting leading ensemble of characters. The film's visual effects really help to bring the various extra-terrestrial settings to life. The pop compilation soundtrack is an additional fun factor to the film's light-hearted humour.
However, these very features ultimately seem to make up for and mask "Guardians"' lacking plot in which a forgettable villain seeks to destroy the universe while the protagonists take measures to stop them, something not too dissimilar to other Marvel movie story lines ("Thor: The Dark World" in particular). This cliché plot needs to be given a rest, especially when the film doesn't seem to really accentuate that particular threat and its implications.
Other than colourful alien worlds, there is nothing else that this film seems to offer or present other than its entertaining cast and (sometimes forced) humour. I really would have liked for a better insight into Peter Quill and his experiences, having been taken away so suddenly from Earth, and a better look at the various worlds we are presented with in the film. Star Wars is a great example of showcasing distinct planets that we become accustomed to and can easily recognise; "Guardians" needs to take a page or two from that book.
I have a feeling that the direction in which this film could have been taken in was shunted due to the fact that Marvel wanted to introduce key plot points that would feature and play heavily in the overall arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its Phases, especially with the expanded introduction of Thanos, whom we can speculate will be the ultimate villain in an "Avengers" movie. Though I understand that this film had the appropriate setting and theme in which to officially introduce these plot points, it feels like it drags it down from feeling like its own, separate entity and not just something that has to very specifically tie into Marvel's current plans for their movies.
"Guardians of The Galaxy" is an entertaining film at best with the crux of its popularity seemingly accumulated from the wild response to the vivid and discrete ensemble of characters and the film's lively and amusing tone. The cliché plot and forgettable villain disappointingly drags "Guardians" down. Don't be fooled by the critics' consensus; this film is good but its notable errors prove that there is definitely room for improvement. Origin stories often tend to fall into this trap but leeway is obviously permitted as the filmmakers get to find their footing and subsequently and hopefully deliver a more developed story and villain for the sequel.
Is "Guardians" worth the watch? Yes, but don't expect anything more than just a fun comic-book movie.