Film Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
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Landing the plane is hard. Finishing a trilogy is…not on the same scale but certainly a feat of its own. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is a movie that walking in had a sense of gravity and weight to it that signaled some finality. Director James Gunn is off to another studio and while we’ve been with these characters for a while, there are some things to finish. So with the weight of that hanging on the picture, it’s nice to say that the film is quite enjoyable and a fitting end to the three film story James Gunn and Kevin Feige wanted to do.
The story picks up a bit after the events of the previous Marvel films as we see the Guardians trying to settle into life on Knowhere. However, the ghosts of the past are never far from anyone. Peter is still mourning the loss of Gamora and Rocket has recently been dealing with more feelings about his past. When a remnant from their pasts (literally) comes crashing in, the team must band together and call on som familiar friends to not only save the life of a teammate, but to save the universe. Again.
The Guardians of the Galaxy movies are first and foremost about a team of coworkers that feels more like a family. This movie is at its absolute peak when it’s leaning into those dynamics. From the messy fights to stinging quips, the script has an incredibly strong grasp on these characters and the actors who will bring them to life. Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Zoe Saldaña, Pom Klementieff, and Dave Bautista all have some of their best acting moments in this film. Bradley Cooper also gets some very moving showcases for his voice work as we finally get to be let in on all that makes Rocket Rocket.
But fair warning to those who are just here for fun hijinks and quips, this new Guardians film is brutal. Given Gunn’s filmography, it’s no surprise that the director can conjure up visceral energy, but it was a shock to see in a Marvel movie. Even when heroes are drop kicking people into the sides of ships or hitting them with energy blast, there’s a bit of remove. Not here as the film is filled with plenty of battles and neck snapping and gouging and shooting, enough for multiple superhero movies.
This however sets the stage for a deliciously vicious villain turn from Chukwudi Iwuji. Isn’t it a bit oxymoronic to think the High Evolutionary is a breath of fresh air? No matter, Iwuji brings us a villain that is just so diabolical that every single line feels like a meal and every gesture feel like a harbinger of doom. How thrilling it is to get to see a Black actor step into a part this cruel and dive into it with no qualms.
The Evolutionary has major ties to Rocket’s backstory and while that backstory might drive the narrative, the way it is employed within the film is probably one of the movie’s weaker aspects. While the emotional beats in other areas feel earned, these feel somewhat placed, especially when you can certainly hazard a great guess at what the outcome will be. I found myself wishing they had been sped up a smidge or located all in one beat. The movie contains a lot of movie and with this style approach, certain aspects can feel longer than they should (despite a 2hr15min run time).
However, these qualms do not entirely bog the film down. There’s such life and energy in every aspect of the filmmaking that even when the movie isn’t hitting on all cylinders, you trust that something amazing will be coming in the next minute (the VFX put nearly every other Marvel movie to shame). Thus Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a fitting end to the trilogy and a nice send off for James Gunn.
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