"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" concludes in emotionally satisfying fashion for these lovable A-holes

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Say what you will about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies have always retained a singular style and tone among the thirty-plus rest (and they’re the first to get a Christmas special). Part of that had to do with writer-director James Gunn being able to bring his charmingly weird and goofy sensibilities to the Disney machine without studio notes. It was also a breath of fresh air that the guardians themselves didn’t start out as household names and actually became the most endearing ragtag of characters, being a found family of misfits. What better way for writer-director James Gunn to bid adieu to his galactic weirdos—and Marvel—than with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” an emotionally satisfying, well-earned trilogy conclusion that does more than play the Greatest Hits.

As many might forget, the first “Guardians” did begin on a highly emotional note, with Peter Quill losing his mother to cancer before getting sucked up into a spaceship outside the hospital. Though pop, disco, and classic rock needle drops and jokey sarcasm have been these standalone films’ bread and butter, characters experiencing loss is not a new concept here. This time, an acoustic version of Radiohead’s “Creep” sets a tone of melancholy. In the Guardians’ headquarters known as Knowhere, the A-holes are down in the dumps, especially gunslinging raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Peter (Chris Pratt), who drinks himself into a stupor about his lost love, Gamora (Zoe Saldaña). (Gamora is back, yes, but as Past Gamora, the Gamora who wasn’t killed by Thanos, she has no recollection of her relationship with Peter and now leads the Ravagers.) Out of nowhere, golden supernova Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), the son of bronze priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), comes crashing through Knowhere. It’s no accident, as he severely injures Rocket on behalf of the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji, appropriately sinister and loathsome). This RoboCop-faced scientist has a history with Rocket, and he’s still trying to play god and perfect the universe on Counter-Earth. To keep their comatose little buddy on life support, Peter and the gang, including knuckleheaded bruiser Drax (Dave Bautista), empath Mantis (Pom Klementieff), cyborg Nebula (Karen Gillan), tree Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), will have to hook up with the old Gamora.

At first, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” does admittedly take a bit to find its footing. The banter is initially hit-and-miss, and the narrative haphazardly intercuts between the Guardians’ mission, certain character dramas, Rocket’s traumatic and temporarily joyous memories, and the Big Bad business with the High Evolutionary. But then, there’s just something riskier about James Gunn not resting on his laurels for his final adventure with these lovable A-holes. The playful irreverence is still there, particularly between Drax, Mantis, and Nebula, but Gunn finds even more pathos with these characters when entering darker territory. Everything within Rocket’s memory is compelling, mostly solemn and genuinely upsetting, to the point of recalling “The Island of Dr. Moreau” and bad seed Sid’s nightmarish toy creations in “Toy Story.” Linda Cardellini also gives a moving voice performance as one of Rocket’s friends, an otter named Lyle. The element of #family is stronger than ever here, leaving room for growth and complexity with each member of the Guardians. Pom Klementieff stands out the most as a quirky delight; Mantis may not be the smartest or most observant, but she’s the most empathetic. Karen Gillan excels here with Nebula’s evolution as a leader; Nebula is still quite surly and quick-tempered, but her found family has rubbed off on her in positive ways. As Warlock, Will Poulter brings an unassuming cluelessness to this new character, who may just be a pawn but does find some use in the 11th hour. 

Practically bursting at the seams with characters, wisecracks, creature designs, action set-pieces, and a whole lot of emotions, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” sees the MCU at its most colorful yet simultaneously not running away from thematically bleak material. When the film just sits with the Guardians, it’s a blast. The soundtrack is still full of earworms, some of the songs being put to more inspired use than others. Of them, Spacehog’s “In the Meantime” is perfectly placed during the Guardians’ zero-gravity entrance to goopy planet OrgoCorp, and Florence + The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” won’t fail to slap a giant grin on your face during a joyously sweet climactic dance of togetherness and parting ways. The fact that “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” feels like a loving embrace between the audience and these onscreen space oddities has to mean something.

Grade: B +

Walt Disney Studios released “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (150 min.) in theaters on May 5, 2023.