Rarely are movies as fun as “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the latest film by Marvel and now the tenth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is everything that you want in a summer movie: lively action, impressive special effects, colorful characters, and, dare I say, even a sense of humor. It also includes a diverse and talented cast, including Bradley Cooper as an angry gun-toting raccoon and Chris Pratt in what is likely to be a star-making role (pun intended). If you have ever had a childlike imagination (I would hope so), then you will likely enjoy “Guardians of the Galaxy” as much as I did.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” opens up the Marvel world to the cosmos, where before the only places we had really seen is our own planet and also Asgard from the “Thor” films. The Guardians team consists of five members: there is Peter Quill, who calls himself Starlord (Chris Pratt), the deadly yet reluctant assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the dim-witted brute Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), the lovable tree-like Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), and the super-smart genetically altered raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper). The five are reluctantly thrown together when they find a mysterious orb, which, if it falls into the wrong hands (Ronan the Accuser), could mean the deaths of countless innocent people.

At one point Quill describes them all as “losers,” and the statement really seems fitting. Each member of the team has had a murky past, living as bounty hunters, criminals, loners, or assassins. Yet, they also possess a sense of good, at least once they realize that they could help people instead of only looking out for themselves. Their transformations are believable, and it distinguishes “Guardians” from movies where the heroes’ integrity is never doubted.

What also distinguishes “Guardians” is the infectious sense of fun that director James Gunn infuses into nearly every scene. The characters play off of one another, and their sometimes clueless attitudes make for some really funny exchanges. There is no shortage of pop culture references either, as at one point Quill describes the legend of “Footloose,” or describes the orb as having a “ark of the covenant/maltese falcon kind of vibe.” And the soundtrack is all 70’s and early 80’s staples, including Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling,” Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love,” and The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb.” The music is somehow fitting, even though we are billions of miles away from Earth. Really, who would have thought that Rupert Holmes’ “The Pińa Colada Song” would be a perfect fit for a space movie?

Chris Pratt, who people might know from NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” was born to play a role like Peter Quill. Far from being the goofy character, here he is smooth, commanding, and at the peak of physical strength. Basically, he is our generation’s Han Solo, although much more sarcastic. It is a standout performance that will likely get Pratt more diverse roles in the future. Zoe Saldana, who here is green instead of blue, as she was in “Avatar,” and Dave Bautista, who is a professional wrestler, are each well cast in their respective roles. Bautista in particular was a surprise, since he had rarely acted in the past. The real scene-stealers, though, are Groot and Rocket. The two are often seen together, with Groot as the muscle and Rocket as the brains; a chaotic duo that tends to get in the most trouble. Bradley Cooper is unrecognizable as Rocket, giving the character a tough-guy, New Jersey accent. And although Vin Diesel only says three words the entire movie (I am Groot!), he is somehow just as good. It’s remarkable that a movie with a talking raccoon and talking tree could be one of the best of the year.

Whether you focus on the chemistry between the characters, the perfectly-timed humor, or the truly spectacular special effects of space and the surrounding planets; it’s hard not to love “Guardians of the Galaxy.” It’s the type of movie that you could nitpick if you wanted to, because although it is not completely flawless (what movie really is?), it’s hard for me not to give it a glowing review. It seems that Marvel has officially reached their highest peak. But I know that there is even more to climb.