Although its well-intentioned narrative becomes tiresomely muddled as it progresses, Luc Besson’s latest sci-fi adventure Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is never the less a thrilling and visually gobsmacking spectacle of high entertainment value.

To state that Valerian… is a passion project of some significant risk for Besson is an understatement. Based on the popular French comic series “Valerian and Laureline”, Besson had aspirations of adapting the film when making his own space opera The Fifth Element. 20 years later Besson’s big screen version has arrived at cinemas at the whopping production cost of $210 million, which it did not recoup at the box-office. Yet while officially declared a “box-office bust”, Valerian… should also develop the reputation as a tremendously entertaining cult-classic, a slice of sci-fi adventure eye-candy that further cements Besson’s standing as one of the great action visual filmmakers.

Valerian… is set in the 28th century, where the large makeshift space city “Alpha” is called home to millions of creatures from different planets, and is policed by the human race in order to preserve peace amongst its multi-species inhabitants. When two star officers, the cheeky yet brave Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and his partner the no-nonsense Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are assigned to a routine mission, they uncover a vast conspiracy involving the extinction of an indigenous alien race.

The conclusion of that conspiracy revels in the source materials strong left-wing politics that is both tiresome and irksome. Yet the journey to those final moments is the best kind of big -budget sci-fi action filmmaking, large scale and exciting enough to go head to head with the competition of superhero movies, yet unique in its features to separate it from the pack.

While this comic book adaptation has not appealed to audiences in the same way as its American superhero contemporaries, its uniqueness is a currency that should not be undervalued. Indeed, Besson’s foreign stylings is a breath of fresh air in both look and tone. With creatures galore (brilliantly realised by the combined might of VFX houses Weta Digital and ILM) inhabiting almost every frame of its 139 minute runtime, and a dynamic energy pushing its story forward, Valerian… proves to be an infectiously entertaining film until overbearing social justice messaging brings the fun to a halt.

Performances from both Dehaan and Delevingne are great, the pair displaying exceptional chemistry that pops off the screen. Dehaan is especially a hoot, channelling his inner Keanu Reeves in his portrayal of “bodacious” heroism. Memorable supporting performances are also found, ranging from Ethan Hawke as an exuberant intergalactic pimp, to Rhianna who delivers the best on screen exotic dance since Salam Hayek in From Dusk Til Dawn.

Valerian… has many elements to be an evolutionary jump in visual sci-fi cinema as Avatar and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was before it. Unfortunately, it’s liberal left-wing politics just does blend with the action as compared to the likes of Snowpiercer or Avatar before it. Still, there is much to like and admire in Besson’s latest. Look for more to look kindly upon it in due time.