“Guardians of the Galaxy,” the latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU,) introduces us to the space-faring scoundrel Peter Quill and the rag-tag band that unites around him in his attempt to save the galaxy.

*************** THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS ***************

After an initial sequence more reminiscent of the four-minute montage in “Up” than with the film’s slapstick-y trailers, the movie settles in to tell the story of Quill’s efforts to obtain, and then regain, a mysterious and powerful orb. In the process of doing so, he is thrown together with four other miscreants: Gamora, an assassin with a heart of gold; Drax, a warrior consumed with regret and vengeance; Rocket, a genetically/cybernetically enhanced raccoon and bounty hunter; and Groot, a powerful sentient tree-creature.

While the group is initially bound by mutual need and dislike, grudging respect eventually turns to affection and the group evolves from a bunch of isolated beings only out for themselves, into a team willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the galaxy.

To do so, they end up opposing any number of forces, including the military forces of Xandar; Gamora’s assassin sister without a heart of gold, Nebula; Quill’s surrogate father, Yondu the bandit; and the story’s “Big Bad,” Ronan.

Based on a relatively obscure team of comic book characters dating back to 1969, “Guardians” allows the MCU to both expand their canonically known universe, and simultaneously tell a story completely new to most of their audience. Combining both broad comedy and the grandeur of a traditional space epic, director James Gunn succeeds in dishing up a satisfying adventure that often seems like the love child of Indiana Jones and Captain EO.

Chris Pratt, as Peter Quill, does a fine job of depicting the lone human of the film as a cocky survivor, still deeply wounded by his loss of both his mother and his planet. Although the ship-full of bandits who raised him may have taught him that only suckers care about others, the experience he gets working with a team shows him the value of family and brings him to the realization that it’s never too late to do the right thing. While it might have been expected that Pratt would have the comedic chops from his work on “Parks and Recreation,” the heart with which he imbues Quill is surprisingly effective.

My personal favorite of the movie however, is Groot–who, despite being limited to vocalizing one sentence (“I am Groot”) manages to be as expressive as any of the others. Ironically, of all of them, it’s Groot who comes with the least amount of growing to do, as his taciturn compassion contrasts and balances Rocket’s aggressive tendencies beautifully.

Ultimately, what I find unique about “Guardians” as opposed to the other MCU films is how the characters struggle to achieve heroism. Rather than most superheroes who either spring out with fully-formed noble intentions from the beginning, or who surmount some life tragedy from a fairly privileged position, these guys are depicted as competent criminals, but vaguely penny-ante, and pretty jerky from the beginning. It’s their journey to discover the potential in themselves and the strength they derive from each other that makes them both compelling and relatable (even the raccoon and the tree.)

At one point in the movie, John C. Reilly’s Corpsman Dey of the Nova Corps is relaying a warning from Quill (an escaped criminal) to Glenn Close’s Nova Prime, in which he says “I may be an A-hole, but I’m not 100% d—.” Nova Prime asks Dey, “do you believe him?” Dey responds “well, I don’t think anyone’s 100% d—…” Which is probably as good an overall message as any.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” is presented by Marvel Studios. Rated PG-13, it stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime and Benicio Del Toro as The Collector.

*Always stay to the end of the credits.

Directed by James Gunn and produced by Kevin Feige. Screenplay by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman. The Executive Producers are Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Nik Korda, and Stan Lee.

The film enters general release on August 1, 2014, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

*At the screening I saw, the last moments after the credits were suspiciously blank. This is a MCU film however, and chances are that if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably got an post-credit sequence.

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