Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 gives a rare thing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy, bringing the Guardians’ story to an emotional and action-packed close.
The Guardians are back, but it has been a while since their last adventure (unless you count the Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special). The gang’s dynamics have changed; they are no longer constantly sniping at each other and are now more like best friends, headquartered on the makeshift planet of Knowhere (made from the head of a deceased god). But Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) ain’t doing so hot. He’s become frequently intoxicated because he knows Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is still alive, albeit not the same one he had a relationship with.
While most of Marvel Studios’ recent output has been a decorative onslaught of over-plotted multiverse-hopping, the Guardians of the Galaxy films have always had a distinct personality, for better or worse. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 elevates the film by maintaining that personality, nodding to the Guardians’ witty swagger while delivering a series of devastating emotional sucker punches along the way.
To accomplish this, director and co-writer James Gunn delves into Rocket Raccoon’s traumatic, heartbreaking backstory, touching on some unexpectedly dark themes along the way, including eugenics and the vivisection of adorable animals. This is what makes this somewhat frantic, but mostly endearing final instalment of the series such an emotionally rich film.
Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) was a young, ridiculously cute kit when he fell into the hands of the High Evolutionary, a mad scientist with a God complex with a desire to create a perfect society, which apparently begins with creepy animal testing, the High Evolutionary is played by Chukwudi Iwuji, who is everything Jonathan Majors SHOULD have been.
Rocket escaped, but he was separated from his surrogate family, Lylla the Otter (Linda Cardellini), Floor the Rabbit (Mikaela Hoover), and Teefs the Walrus (Asim Chaudhry). Now the High Evolutionary wants to recapture his prized experiment, and he sends golden himbo Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) to reclaim him.
The scenes where the entire group gets to play off each other are the best of the trilogy, and the remaining Guardians once again bring their A-game. It was great to see their chemistry again after years of watching them evolve into a family.
Karen Gillan’s Nebula is easily the group’s standout, as she takes on a more prominent role and has a new brachium ex machina (thanks to Rocket), capable of doing all sorts of cool things. While Drax and Mantis each get their chance to shine, by this point their oblivious idiocy has long since been over-mined for laughs. Groot is there with his three-word vocabulary, and he absolutely kicks all KINDS of ass with his formidable new body. However, given that this is a film about Rocket’s past, it’s a shame we didn’t learn anything about the beginnings of their friendship.
Having said that, there is some bad amidst the good, but these moments are ultimately few and far between. Vol 3 feels a little cramped, even by Guardians of the Galaxy movie standards. The film feels a little too much at times, with set pieces, creatures, and large new environments designed to convey the scale of the cosmic world the characters live in, as the Guardians try to juggle the High Evolutionary, Adam Warlock, a slew of nameless monster creations, and their own insecurities and hang-ups.
The movie’s exuberant sense of overflowing with energy, at its best, works to its advantage by giving it the explosive shine of something that needs to be this big and this bold. At its worst, it mentally suffocates us, leaving us wanting the story to focus a little bit more.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 refuses to leave anything unsaid (except for the Groot thing), and seizes every opportunity to offer one more narrative trick or clever visual, especially when it comes to the action scenes. If the first film was about discovering one’s purpose, and the second about discovering one’s family, Vol 3 is about discovering one’s legacy and deciding what to leave behind.
While the Guardians series will most likely continue in some form, Gunn ties up this iteration of the team (who will undoubtedly be missed) with the same humour and heart as the first two Guardians films, which is undeniably both intensely entertaining and unforgettably endearing.
Ultimately, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is a must-see for fans of the previous films, and a fitting conclusion to the Guardians’ story.
