“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” directed by James Gunn, ventures into a realm that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially for those who adore animals, avid comic book fans, and those seeking a seamless narrative in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This movie could be primarily for completionist fans like myself, who venture into the theater with high hopes of recapturing the whimsical charm and anti-gravity escapades of the first installment.
For those needing a refresher on the multiversal timeline, “Guardians” marks the second film of the somewhat lackluster Phase Five of the MCU, following the underwhelming “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” The last time we saw our lovable band of misfits was in “Avengers: Infinity War,” where the villain Thanos (Josh Brolin) tossed Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), one of the Guardians, into an abyss to retrieve an Infinity Stone and eventually wipe out half the universe. Although there were side adventures involving dancing Groots and a charming holiday special centered around Kevin Bacon, they were mostly irrelevant.
Now, the Guardians have set up base in Knowhere, a community located in the severed head of a celestial being. Still mourning the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a.k.a. Star-Lord, remains oblivious to the fact that a variant of Gamora is alive, though without memories of him or the rest of the Guardians. When Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) falls victim to a deadly attack early in the film, the team must reunite with a hostile, partially amnesiac Gamora, who is reluctantly drawn into their mission to save him.
While Rocket’s life hangs in the balance, Peter and his companions delve into Rocket’s painful past to find a way to save him and thwart their pursuer, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). This powerful god-like figure has genetically altered Rocket, other animals, and even children to create a “perfect” race for his imagined utopia. However, the film’s main story seems to emerge unexpectedly, centered around Rocket instead of Star-Lord, who usually drove the plot. This shift is a logical consequence of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” being the trilogy’s conclusion, resulting in a different lineup for the Guardians and their ambiguous role in the broader context of the MCU. Nevertheless, this shift feels somewhat forced and emotionally manipulative, as countless scenes feature CGI animals with expressive eyes being subjected to torment, explosions, and incineration, akin to heart-wrenching ASPCA commercials set to a Sarah McLachlan song.
It appears that “Guardians” resorts to such gratuitous trauma to establish its stakes and prove the villain’s malevolence. Unfortunately, this approach leaves Chukwudi Iwuji with a thinly sketched antagonist to work with, compared to his more nuanced performance in Gunn’s edgy-fun DC Extended Universe series, “Peacemaker.” Additionally, secondary antagonists portrayed by Will Poulter and Elizabeth Debicki feel unnecessary.
The central problem “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” faces in the post-“Endgame” MCU era lies in introducing characters and circumstances that pale in comparison to the formidable Thanos and his multi-arc-spanning plotline. Thanos’s power and the roots of his villainous philosophy were clear, whereas the High Evolutionary’s motivations remain vague. His statement, “There is no god — that’s why I stepped in,” leaves much to be desired in terms of depth and complexity. Exploring the psychology of an atheist with a narcissistic personality and obsessive-compulsive disorder could have made the character more intriguing, but sadly, the film doesn’t delve into this opportunity.
Despite being less fun than its predecessors, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” still shines through the ordinary yet delightful squabbles among the found family of misfits. Dave Bautista delivers another priceless performance as Drax, and his chemistry with Pom Klementieff as Mantis is captivating. Both Groot (Vin Diesel) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) have leveled up in the action department, providing some intense moments. Although the movie doesn’t bother explaining the logic behind Gamora’s magical reappearance, it allows Zoe Saldaña to reinvent her character impressively. Likewise, Rocket’s character receives an Oscar-worthy performance thanks to Bradley Cooper’s outstanding voice acting and the animation team’s remarkable work, making his expressions and movements incredibly lifelike.
Gunn takes a bold and curious approach to create an unsettling aesthetic, combining elements of Cronenberg’s style with the fantastical world of “Osmosis Jones.” Some scenes are set in a ship designed like internal organs, featuring fleshy globules and dendrite-like structures, all portrayed in nude tones and accompanied by squishy sound effects, adding an unwelcome layer of discomfort.
While the movie occasionally returns to the luminous shine of stars and nebulae, Gunn’s direction falls short in capturing the full visual spectacle. The camera spins too wildly during group fight scenes, robbing us of the chance to fully appreciate the choreography.
Thankfully, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” maintains its tradition of an exceptional soundtrack, featuring Spacehog, Beastie Boys, and Earth Wind & Fire. Despite the pulsating soundtrack, this final installment in the trilogy leaves one unmistakable impression: “Guardians” was a one-hit wonder, and recapturing the magic proved challenging.