REVIEW: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Is An Entertaining Final Ride

The Guardians are back for one final ride in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Directed once again, and one last time, by James Gunn, the latest addition in the Marvel Cinematic Universe finds the Guardians trying to establish a home base on Knowwhere after the events of Avengers: Endgame, while Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) struggles with missing Gamora (Zoe Saldana). However, after an attack by Sovereign, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), Rocket’s (voiced by Bradley Cooper) life now hangs in the balance, and Quill, Drax (Dave Bautista), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), and Nebula (Karen Gillan) find themselves setting out to find the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who may have the key to saving Rocket’s life.

Gunn returns to his roots with the third film in the franchise. The film is colorful, the dialogue is funny, and the Guardians remain at their best when nothing goes to plan; and things definitely do not go to plan. But one of the best things that Gunn focuses on in this film, is who are the Guardians, without the Guardians. Self-worth is explored heavily and in way that fans will thoroughly enjoy.

But certain moments throughout the film are too drawn out and Rocket’s sass is greatly missed. It’s not to say that the idea of using Rocket’s backstory and using the idea of trauma and healing as the focal point of this film was not brilliant, but Gunn focused a little too much on the more upsetting parts of Rocket’s history, and utilized an abundance of heat wrenching and mentally exhausting methods to get them across to the audience.

The soundtrack is once again the leading star of the film. Yes, there were a few misses in the lineup that didn’t deliver quite the punch they should have, but for the most part, each piece of music elevated the scene it was associated it. There is a beautifully shot action sequence featured in a corridor that is a great example of how an already impactful scene was made even better by the song playing alongside of it.

Pratt, Bautista, Gillan, and Klementieff are at home with their characters, and it is fun to see Gillan and Klementieff finally have more material to work with than in previous films. Both characters get more development in this film and are allowed to have more emotions than just anger for Nebula and innocence for Mantis.

The Gamora viewers meet in this film is ruthless and rage-filled. More assassin then hero, but as fun as it is to watch Saldana take on a completely different Gamora, the act becomes tiring very quickly. Is this all Gamora is worth? Yes, we meet an assassin in Endgame, but that same assassin wanted a relationship with her sister, Nebula, and ins this take, that need is basically forgotten.

Will Poulter is entirely underused. His character might have all of 10 lines in the film, and is at the end of the day, just an overgrown man child. I am definitely interested to see his character’s continue growth in the MCU. Iwuji is at his best earlier in the film when the High Evolutionary is just beginning his life of experimentation, but becomes a little too over the top by the end of the film.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 may not be the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it doesn’t have to be. It just has to be better than any of the other products Marvel has released in the last few years and a good send off to this gang of misfits. And both of those boxes get checked.

Grade: B+

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