Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 Review: Babe, Wake Up, The Best MCU Film In A Long Time Just Dropped
The most fun I've had in a while!
It’s like a ritual for me, on my way to watch a new Marvel film, to say to myself “Honestly, I’m just looking to have a fun time.” That’s how I set my expectations, having been burnt a couple of times by the MCU’s recent lukewarm instalments. But in James Gunn we do place our hopes, right? And look at where it has gotten us and the MCU. Not one but three incredibly fun GoTG movies. In fact, I’ll go ahead and say that Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 is the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time at a superhero movie. It’s hilarious in a jump-in-your-seat-with-laughter way, turns you into a blubbering mess during its emotional scenes, and makes you cheer at the top of your voice in its most exhilarating moments. Oh and dance. Of course, dance! When was the last time MCU was this enjoyable, huh?
GoTG Vol 3 is written and directed by James Gunn, and stars Chris Pratt as Peter Quill aka Star Lord, Zoe Saldaña as Gamora, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Dave Bautista as Drax The Destroyer, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary, Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, Elizabeth Debicki as the Sovereign High Priestess Ayesha, Maria Bakalova as Cosmo the space dog, and Sylvester Stallone as the Ravager, Stakar Ogord.
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Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 resumes in the aftermath of the Holiday Special (another wholesome outing from Gunn, ft. Guardians and Kevin Bacon!). We know this because Mantis being Quill’s sister is common knowledge and so is the fact that Quill is still mourning Gamora over drinks. She isn’t dead, but this version of Gamora is from the past, unsoftened by the love of a found family, and wants nothing to do with the Guardians or Quill. On the other hand, her sister Nebula won’t admit it but she is all mush now underneath that tough exterior, thanks to her time with the Guardians.
But the opening sequence, set to Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ and featuring Rocket in an unusually pensive mood walking around Knowhere, the Guardians HQ, makes it clear that this is Rocket Raccoon’s film through and through. When catastrophe strikes Knowhere, we get a look into what (or who) made Rocket, and it sets up not just one but two adversaries that the Guardians must face. The High Evolutionary aka Rocket’s douchebag of a maker, and Adam Warlock. Recall we saw Ayesha, the Golden High Priestess of the Sovereign race hype him, in the mid-credits scene of Vol 2?
Actually, scratch that, it’s three adversaries. The time crunch is a real pain. And that’s all I can tell ya for now.
Also Read: The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special Review: Charming, Funny, Festive. Pom Klementieff And Dave Bautista’s Chemistry Is A Gift!
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 has everything it needs to make it an exhilarating space adventure. And it plays to its strengths, letting its tried and tested found family charm power its emotionally charged storytelling. I’ve always loved how the Guardians movies don’t really forget their secondary family members. If the core Guardians are on a mission, Kraglin and Cosmo the space dog are at the HQ on a mission of their own which is so wholesome, it could make even a stone-hearted grump smile. The chemistry and banter between the Guardians are in top form. Like this time, when multiple characters do something ridiculously dangerous and then ask their friends, “Did that look cool?” Or Mantis pranking a deadpan and ever-lovable Drax, Peter’s hilariously sappy attempts to impress Gamora, or a special surprise that Groot pulls that nothing will prepare you for.
Vol 3 also really takes the MCU story forward in a satisfactory way. We’ve all gotten the hints; this is the end of the Guardians as we know them. Every character’s personal growth journey plays out rather beautifully along the way, rather than making them feel like mere cardboard pieces moving as per some cosmic chess game, which is what most of the MCU films have been feeling like lately. Everyone from Quill to Drax and from Gamora to Adam Warlock discovers they aren’t the same people they were at the start of the film or the start of the franchise even, and the adventure changes them in some ways. It lends much gravity to the climax and the ending.
Along with reinforcing our love for the OG Guardians, James Gunn is able to awaken our affinity for the new characters he introduces in this film. You truly hate the villain because of their straightforward deplorable acts, some of which are difficult to watch. Along with having its first cuss word, a bleeped out “f*ck,” this might be darker than the MCU has gone before. In an interview, Gunn mentioned how he wanted to make this movie because he wanted to tell the stories of Lylla (an otter), Teefs (a walrus), and Floor (a rabbit), Rocket’s friends from his earlier days. And their story became one of my favourite parts of the film! I’ll warn you, prepare for all the cute aggression and heartbreaking emotion you’re going to experience when you see some of these guys on screen, including a baby Rocket. There wasn’t a single dry eye in the theatre!
The film is an intergalactic adventure, and it looks as dynamic and engaging as ever. We jump worlds, from Knowhere to the Orgosphere and Counter-Earth, all inhabited by different species. We’ve been doing that a lot since the Multiverse happened. Only, in Quantumania, I felt nothing for these new civilisations that we were watching pop up on the screen. But GoTG Vol 3 is proof that you can actually make your audience care, simply by adding little details, instead of it all just being a novel background setting for your familiar main storylines.
We can’t talk about Guardians Of The Galaxy without discussing its music now, can we? I read somewhere how clever critics often like to personify inanimate things in a movie and call them a character, and it cracked me up! But the music of GOTG has always been a character we love, and it has its own journey. The Awesome Mix Vol. 3 actually changes decades and speaks volumes about what the Guardians are going through. ‘Creep’ from Radiohead makes for an apt beginning. The trailer was set to ‘Since You Been Gone’ by Rainbow so perfectly captures what the Guardians are feeling at that moment. And the song the film ends with is just the right one to get us all grooving!
Also Read: What To watch This Week Of May 1 To May 7: Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo, Afwah, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3, And More
Verdict
Did that look cool? Why, yes, James Gunn, your MCU swansong was super cool!
The Dog Days Are Over. Well, at least for now. The MCU has been scampering like a headless chicken in its post Avengers: Endgame phases. And James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 just brought the heart back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s a great-looking space adventure with ample fan service that ties a nice little bow around endings and new beginnings, makes you feel all the feels, laugh all the laughs, and just shows you the best time you’ve had at an MCU outing in a while.
Now, it’s time the MCU goes for the head, and then we can all stop pretending superhero film fatigue is a thing.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 is in theatres from May 5, 2023.
PS: Sit yo ass down for a mid-credits and a post-credits scene!
First Published: May 04, 2023 4:36 PM
