GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 (2023)

While I’m going to miss this weird band of galaxy-defending misfits, James Gunn’s sequel is the perfect ending swan song for the crew filled with intense action, offbeat humor, and palpable emotion that comes together to deliver a top tier Marvel entry.

When one of the Guardians needs saving, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and his team stop at nothing to do what they must, even going up against the ruthless, powerful High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Look, I wasn’t a fan of the second film, so let’s get that out of the way right at the beginning. But with the third installment, I’m back on board for loving these characters and ability James Gunn has to craft an all-encompassing cinematic adventure unlike any other. One thing that I appreciate about the filmmaker is that he hits the ground running with each one of his films, diving right into the instigating incident that sets the heroes off for the rest of the film. The audience isn’t even given time to process or ease in, rather the train leaves the station at breakneck speed. That is ever so true for Vol. 3, a film that has each of the characters reflecting on their individual roles on the team while realizing their interconnectedness. This is very much Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper’s) movie in a lot of ways; the core story, as teased in the trailers, explores the wisecracking hero’s background and his ties to The High Evolutionary, a villain who is subtly on par with Thanos for the threat he poses and the stakes should failure occur (more on that later). Through this backstory, interwoven into the overarching narrative, it’s hard to not find yourself near tears as you both better understand why Rocket is the way he is and empathize with what he’s been through. It hit me midway through that there are a number of parallels between Rocket and another Marvel character, Wolverine. Both are subjected to experiments that not only alter their lives, but isolate them. Much of their stories then turn to finding their place and unpacking their true selves. Gunn plays with that beautifully here, dissecting each of the Guardians by the end; there isn’t one character that is left unscathed by the events of the film, nor is their one who hasn’t developed greatly since the first entry.

Back to The High Evolutionary, he seeks to build the perfect society no matter the costs (sound familiar?) and he has next to no allegiances holding him back. Once his motivations are clear, the intensity skyrockets as the Guardians take him on. We also are introduced to Adam Warlock, the highly-anticipated character addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe played by Will Poulter who is on somewhat of a developmental journey of his own. Without getting into spoiler territory, this very much felt like the first adventure for the golden boy, an arc that was satisfyingly complimentary to the story being told. It all plays out through stunning shots that incorporate heavy CGI that looks the best it has in years; each new world, new technology, new corner of the galaxy traveled is beautifully illustrated with precise detail. Mix in the involved camerawork that takes you into the action (flipping around, diving down, even sometimes dizzying, yet effective) and you have a visual feast for the eyes. This also feels like the most “creature feature” type Marvel film yet with various beings of different origins showcased throughout the film akin to what Star Wars films often bring to the table. Interwoven throughout is the humor that we’ve come to expect, whether from Drax (Dave Bautista) being abrasively direct, Mantis (Pom Klementieff) being innocent and cute, or a lovelorn Quill attempting to reconnect with an indifferent Gamora (Zoe Saldana). And yes, Groot (Vin Diesel) still knows just when to interject. 

Is it chaotic? Absolutely. Is there a lot being balanced in this third and purportedly final outing? You betcha! But it all works beautifully as an expertly-concocted bookend to the weirdest, yet arguably best series of films within the MCU, a testament to all involved. It certainly is my favorite Guardians film and in the company of some of the best films Marvel has put out. Vol. 3 is a theatrical blockbuster that cannot be missed.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters on Friday, May 5th, 2023.

Rating: 5/5