The freakin Guardians of the Galaxy are back in action for one last ride as James Gunn wraps up the story of his favorite misfits with the release of GotG Vol. 3. Pack a big box of tissues because Gunn is going to take you on an emotionally intense journey for the duration of the film, pulling at your heartstrings every step of the way. 

 

Although the Christmas adventure on Disney+ provided a lighthearted opportunity for character growth and status updates since Avengers: Endgame, our heroes are not in the best of mindsets with the opening of GotG Vol. 3. When Knowhere is hit by a surprise attack from the Sovereign’s forces (those wacky golden people from Vol. 2), Rocket becomes critically injured, forcing our friends to seek out answers about his mysterious past to save his future. The quest to save their injured friend takes them across the galaxy, where they encounter surprisng new worlds and reunite with some unexpected help. What will it take to save their friend, and why does the being known as the High Evolutionary want Rocket so bad? 

 

Since the first Guardians of the Galaxy, we’ve known that the majority of the team has had some type of trauma in their background (maybe not the original Groot, but he did die after all…). Trauma scars run deep, and GotG Vol. 3 uses this theme as a focal point as our heroes attempt to move on from the past to potentially establish a better future. I wasn’t joking about the need for  tissues, as the flashbacks to Rocket’s backstory are much more intense than anyone would have expected. Knowing that this is the end of the trilogy, Gunn will keep audiences guessing for the duration of the runtime, leaving you unsure if your favorite characters are going to survive the tale. 

 

Due to the intensity of the topics at hand, viewers should be warned that practically everyone in the theater was close to tears at several points in the film. The kid sitting next to me in the press screening was bauling at multiple points, so just be aware that this might be a different viewing experience than taking your family to the previous Marvel films due to the topics and the tragic nature of the story. That being said, this intensity also allows for some of the best moments in the trilogy, demonstrating just how far these characters have come since we first met them. These are not the same people that we met in the early installments, and that exploration of growth allowed for unique moments and interactions that wouldn’t have been possible before. 

 

GotG Vol. 3 stars Chris Pratt (Starlord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Will Poulter (Adam Warlock), Dave Bautista (Drax), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Vin Diesel (Groot), Maria Bakalova (Cosmo) and Chukwudi Iwuji (The High Evolutionary). Gunn clearly understands how to play to the strengths of his cast, providing each of the talented actors an opportunity to thrive in their respective roles. The MVP of the film is Iwuji, who crafted the best and most shocking antagonists that we have ever had in a Marvel movie. He delivered a performance packed with a level of emotional resilience and raw passion that has been lacking from most of the more recent MCU threats (aside from Namor who was also amazing), allowing for several unexpected choices and surprising narrative advancements. The film also features Nathan Fillion in a surprising (more than just a brief cameo) role. His character provided some of the most memorable comedic dialogue in the movie. My only disappointment in the film was the story arc given to Will Poulter, who is introduced as a not fully baked version of Adam Warlock. In typical Marvel fashion, this is a proto-version of the character, but the child-like force of nature was a bit distracting from everything else that was going on in the film. To be clear, I have the utmost confidence that Poulter was the right choice for the character (this is story specific not about his acting), and I am hopeful that the evolution of the character seen by the end will be more endearing in future cosmic storylines. 

 

Music continues to be a strength in the GotG installments, as GotG Vol. 3 once again leverages clever song choices to further the narrative. Gunn expertly subverts expectations right off the bat, providing audiences with a rather dour opening sequence as opposed to the high-energy musical fanfare from the first two volumes. I would recommend that you once again avoid the soundtrack until after experiencing the movie.

 

One chapter closes and a new one begins. GotG Vol. 3 provides an extremely satisfying conclusion to the epic cosmic saga. Faithful to its comic book roots, the end is only just the beginning. Although many of the cast have chosen to wrap up their MCU involvement with Gunn’s departure, we know that the legacy of the Guardians will carry on in a new form. 

Rating:

ComicsOnline gives Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – 4.5/5 adventures on Counter-Earth!