So, a scrappy weirdo with some notable quirks and idiosyncrasies that might push buttons against the anyone with clean, respectable, and mainstream sensibilities is considered expendable by an all-powerful force who seeks to create a perfect, idealized utopia that can never truly be due to this force’s overpowering and single-minded nature. But enough about James Gunn’s initial firing from Disney prior to his return, allowing him to close off the trilogy he started almost a decade ago before going off to oversee all the big stuff coming out of DC and Warner Brothers. One can’t help but see some striking parallels, not that I can say what it may or may not imply, but it is interesting.
Anyway, here we are with Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, the final film with this particular team of heroes, and it really does feel like the end of an era. These films for me have been on a much higher tier compared to most Marvel movies, I really resonate with their pathos, the humor, and the edge that James Gunn, a filmmaker I was already a fan of, brings to the house style we associate with Marvel. You wouldn’t really mistake them for not being a part of the big Marvel machine, but there is a distinct je ne sais quoi that puts these over the edge.
The setup here is fairly straight forward, Rocket (Bradley Cooper) gets mortally injured when the Guardians get attacked by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), a being created by Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) of the Sovereign, the golden people from the last film. However, in trying to fix up Rocket, the team discover a kill switch inside him that they will need to override, and to do so, they will need to track down the code at the Orgocorp headquarters. There, the journey crosses paths with a key figure from Rocket’s past, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who is dead set on capturing Rocket by any means necessary for his evil plan.
During the film, we also get flashbacks scattered throughout, showing us Rocket’s backstory. To which I will warn you, if the idea of seeing small animals being tortured is incredibly distressing to you, maybe prepare yourself. Because while Gunn doesn’t necessarily show you the nitty-gritty, the general vibe and the atmosphere, especially during these flashbacks, are emotionally very intense and harsh, and occasionally hard to watch. However, they do serve a purpose in enriching our understanding of these characters and the things they have to overcome as it reaches its conclusion.
All the major characters go through something major here. Peter (Chris Pratt) is still struggling to move past the fact that his Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is gone while another one is present and reluctantly helping the team out on their mission. Nebula (Karen Gillan) has to deal with the responsibility of being a rock for the team, taking on more of a leadership position when needed. Mantis (Pom Klementieff) gets frustrated by having to mother everyone during emotional highs. And Groot (Vin Diesel)…actually Groot is pretty much just vibing. But even smaller players like Adam Warlock, Kraglin (Sean Gunn) and Cosmo The Space Dog (Maria Bakalova) get moments to shine.
Like with the other films in the series, there is a compelling sci-fi conceit at the center of it, even when there is a lot of silliness going on around it, there are actual themes and questions that give the story weight. In this one, we have a villain who believes in the idea of creating a utopia made of people of his design, people who are smart, non-violent, idealized in practically every capacity. A somewhat noble idea until you realize he is a psychotic eugenicist who doesn’t see value in the life he creates, serving nothing but his own ego and nothing else. It’s arguably a broad and loud portrayal as far as movie villainy goes, but it’s a powerful one, and one that makes for a truly detestable figure that you want to see taken down. Is the creation of a utopian society a noble cause? Or is it a slippery slope that is destined to be taken advantage of by people like the High Evolutionary?
If there’s anyone out there who will find lots to love in the imperfections of his creations, it’s James Gunn, and the love shines so bright in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3. With each film, he has done a wonderful job on building over what came before, and even taking in the changes that have occurred off-screen, either in Endgame or even in the silly Holiday Special released last year. James Gunn’s ability to cross between the icky, the jokey, and the nakedly sentimental is hardly ever elegant, but it rings true and it has real emotional impact, which matters more to me. The more melancholic undertones and somewhat indulgent runtime with this final installment feels earned after everything that not only the characters have been through over the years, but also Gunn himself following the infamous firing/rehiring. It’s not often that one of these movies really feel special, or have the weight that they try to have, or paying off everything that they setup, but this one pulls it off. Everyone’s working at the top of their game, and the effort shows. I will miss seeing this group together.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 is now out in theaters.