MPAA Rating: PG-13/Genre: Superhero/Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Rosenbaum, Stephen Blackehart, Judy Greer, Miriam Shor, Daniela Melchior, Jennifer Holland, Gregg Henry; Voices of: Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Maria Bakalova, Linda Cardellini, Asim Chaudhry, Mikaela Hoover, Tara Strong, Dee Bradley Baker/Runtime: 150 minutes

I think it is safe to start this review off by asking all of you a question. That being isn’t it wild knowing that next year will mark a solid decade since the first Guardians of the Galaxy slice of cinema arrived in theaters and proceeded to change the trajectory of the MCU forever? Indeed it’s no closely guarded secret that when the first entry in this delightfully kooky space saga was brought to us in the long ago year of 2014, it wasn’t content with just being as far removed from “the norm” in terms of comic book movies as it possibly could get. Rather, it dazzled, shined, and danced its way to being one of the most delightful movies of the MCU at that time (and even now come to think). As a result, not only did it make instant icons of its key roster of characters (to say nothing of its director), but it also saw them become so beloved that they would make impactful appearances in not just a second film in 2017, but also in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame with even a wonderful 15-20 minutes of screentime (for all the plentiful flaws this movie had) in Thor: Love and Thunder from last year respectively. Of course, as we all know, all good things must sadly come to an end and as a result we have now come to the final bow for this group in the shape and form of the slice of cinema I am reviewing for you today aka Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. To be sure, this is one film that definitely had the odds not exactly in its favor to be received well let alone seen at all what with film helmer James Gunn being let go to my worry that there is too much Marvel content being made right about now. Yet even with those obstacles in mind, there is no denying that this film manages to buck the odds for the most part and give its cast of characters a funny yet also extremely poignant story to close out their time in the MCU on. Suffice it to say then that it’s not exactly the cleanest getaway in the world, but with the aid of wonderful work on both sides of the camera, this is still by all means a fairly worthy farewell tour for the most delightful group of scoundrels in the galaxy.

The plot is as follows: Picking up some time after the events of Thor: Love and Thunder and their holiday special, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 gets underway as we see that things almost seem to be going fairly well for our favorite group of galactic butt kickers. I say almost because despite Drax, Mantis, Nebula, Kraglin, Groot, and new member Cosmo the Spacedog living their lives and doing their part for both the team and around the team’s new base on Knowhere, there are two members who seem more than just a tad bit….off. The first is team leader Peter Quill who seems to be in a quasi-sorta permanent state of sloven drunkenness due to his continued grief over the loss of the team’s Gamora a few years prior. The second is Rocket for….reasons unknown. As worrisome as these two valued team members being in a funk is however, we soon see that things are about to get even worse. This is because it isn’t long before an enhanced warrior who has sent by an old foe on a mission of vengeance against the team for a slight that occurred in one of their previous adventures and who goes by the name of Adam decides to pay them a very unwelcome visit. Yet even though the team is able to fight Adam off, we see that one is still left seriously wounded in the encounter. To make matters even more dire some, we also learn that Rocket’s creator, a ruthless and quite psychotic geneticist known as the High Evolutionary from a place called Counter-Earth, would love nothing more than to reclaim our favorite furball due to things that happened between them in the past to say nothing of just a twisted desire to reacquire a being that, in his eyes, is nothing more than just an expendable creation of his. Thus with both this despot and Adam on the hunt for them, and in order to save one of their own, we see that the Guardians, with the aid of both the alternate Gamora from Endgame as well as the Ravagers, must go on one final journey. One that will reveal long-buried secrets, and see the team tested like never before from a threat that, if they cannot successfully defeat them, could bring about the end. Not only of their lives, but also of the family unit they have all fought so hard to maintain…..

Now right off the ol’ mixtape, it should be noted that as wonderful as this slice of cinema is behind the camera, there are still a few hiccups to be found herein. Namely that, for as hard as it tries (and believe me it genuinely does), this slice of cinema is still not quite able to get out of the gravitational pull of some of the infamous formulaic aspects to the Marvel playbook. To be sure, the beginning and middle of this film are downright brilliant and lively, but when you get to the third act don’t be surprised if you find yourself looking at your watch (or your significantly darkened phone screen) going “ok this should be over at some point in the next 10 years….right?” Even with that in mind, there is no denying that film helmer/co-scribe James Gunn has such a love and passion for this group that he is able to make the audience feel the love as well. As a result, we see that this slice of cinema’s narrative is able to land on some extremely pathos-driven peaks and go to some quite bleak valleys whilst being truly the most involved narrative in the Guardians solo trilogy. Indeed this is a movie that immerses itself not only in the ramifications of just how awry the idea of human superiority can get if tragically left unchecked, but also warms the heart with the theme that there is in all of us a wish to be loved and embraced and it is those who choose to do that for us who make this life we are given worth living. As a result, there might not be as many jokes as there were in the first two, but there is definitely a lot of potent emotion on display. Emotion that, I have no shame in saying, left me struggling and even failing to an extent to hold back my tears at points throughout. Along with these remarkable elements, it should also be noted that the visual effects work and action beats are not only quite stylish, but do a great job at immersing you in what is unfolding on screen. Indeed, Gunn is truly operating with some moments in this that really burst onto the screen in ways that audiences just don’t get to witness as much in slices of cinema like this and it is his level of creativity and respect to detail that helps to make every movie he makes, including this one, as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the heart and soul as well. Suffice it to say that, in nearly every single way possible including another soundtrack that is worth tapping your toes to and is sure to be a soundtrack that is going to be downloaded by everyone within the month, this is genuine movie magic through and through and praise must be given to Gunn and his crew behind the camera for bringing it so beautifully to life for all of us.

Of course, it also doesn’t hurt this slice of cinema in the least that not only are the cast of returning players just as terrific in their respective roles as always, but that the proverbial new kids on the block also manage to provide some wonderful performances in their own right. In regards to the former group, it should come as no surprise to learn that once again Chris Pratt is wonderful as team leader Peter Quill. Indeed Pratt has always managed to find new and intriguing avenues to take this character and here he does a great job at playing a take on Quill that is very much despondent and melancholic, but who finds himself having to pull himself together in order to save someone who he has come to really care about and consider a dear friend. Thus, yes there are moments in this where Pratt will make you laugh, but there are also moments in this where don’t be surprised if you find yourself holding back tears as well. I also enjoyed seeing the work done here by Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, and Pom Klementieff in the roles of Nebula, Drax, and Mantis respectively. Indeed not only do they all, much like Pratt, find new and distinct nuances to bring to their respective characters, but they all manage to provide performances that are sure to leave a smile on your face and at least a tear in your eye by the time it’s all done. Without a doubt though, the defining turn here is the one given by Bradley Cooper as Rocket. Now I can’t really say much about his role in this due to spoilers, but what I can say is that not only will you learn more about Rocket here than ever before, but Cooper manages to give a vocal turn here that is easily the most moving turn in the entire movie and one that is sure to leave you sobbing quite a bit. Now I do like the work done in this by Zoe Saldana as the alternate Gamora, but given the narrative arc that her character has in this it does feel to some degree like she might not play as vital a part in the proceedings as the others. Of course, it has always been said that the hero of a story is only as good as the villain. Fortunately, that is not an issue this slice of cinema is saddled with since we get not one, but two intriguing antagonistical turns here from new kids on the block Chukwudi Iwuji and Will Poulter as the High Evolutionary and Adam respectively. Indeed not only do the pair manage to merge into this existing universe incredibly well, but both manage to do a great job in their respective turns as well. This starts with Iwuji who does a great hiss worthy job at playing a guy who, besides being someone who was probably Doctor Moreau’s intergalactic roommate, is just truly a despicable piece of….work who you just hate right from the get-go and can’t wait to see get his comeuppance by the end of this. Poulter meanwhile does a wonderful job in a role that could amusingly and literally best be described as an overpowered adult infant or Benjamin Button with superpowers if you prefer. Indeed the character of Adam is fairly unique because, due to just being brought into the world, he’s not entirely familiar with the nuances of life all that well and so it’s a genuine joy to not only see the character grow and learn as the movie goes along, but also to see his various interactions with the Guardians both with fisticuffs involved and without fisticuffs involved. Suffice it to say that when you also factor in winning efforts from such talents as the returning Elizabeth Debicki, Sean Gunn, Maria Bakalova, Sylvester Stallone plus some new talents that are better left for you to discover for yourself dear reader I think it can definitely be said that this slice of cinema might have a few missteps here and there, but the work done by the immensely talented cast of players in front of the camera is most assuredly not one of them.

All in all and at the end of the day dear reader, I must confess something to you that I figured out whilst watching this. That being that yes the MCU has given us titles that make us laugh and leave us in awe no doubt, but what makes them special is when they give us an entry that provides us with something truly potent from an emotional perspective to ponder upon. For example: Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War were remarkable for not only being afraid to go bleak right from the word go, but also in showing us the genuine heartbreak and loss that is often attached to a conflict on such a massive level be it personal sacrifice or just the bitter taste of defeat. Along with that, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Black Panther also were willing to go dire in their portrayals of two distinct men finding everything they thought they could believe in suddenly being ripped out from under him and their ensuing struggles to both grapple with these truths and still be the hero everyone needed them to be. We also saw in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever how the loss of a loved one can truly consume us if we are not careful. Finally, Spider-Man: No Way Home showed us how even the best of intentions on the part of a superhero can still bring about the most tragic of consequences, but even then there is still hope and inspiration to be found to simply keep going.  I think it can be safely said that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 can now join that list as well. Yes the first two were also quite emotional with their emotional looks at what it’s like to both find a family and then keep said family together, but this one really does go for the gold with a look at the fact that an individual’s life isn’t just worth a lot to themselves. Rather, it’s also worth a lot to those who love and care about that individual and that is something this film shows it in a way that is genuinely beautiful. Suffice it to say that whilst there are some flaws to be found here, there is also no denying that with the potent work on both sides of the camera, this final bow for one of the MCU’s most beloved squads will make you laugh and certainly make you cry, but it will also leave you happy. Happy that, even though Gunn is now headed on his way to his new post as co-head of the DC Comics Cinematic Universe (or whatever the heck it’s called) for Warner Bros., he and this talented cast and crew were still able to come together and give us a trinity of films that not only all stuck the landing in terms of quality, but which I feel will truly stand the test of time now and always. Make of that what thou will. On a scale of 1-5 I give Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 a solid 4 out of 5.