A tree and a raccoon walk into a bar, and they end up stuck with a ragtag group of misfits back in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film. A tree and a raccoon you say? Both of which can talk with Groot, the tree creature, only ever utters three words in one particular order, “I am Groot!”. The raccoon in question loves shooting things whereas the other group members, Gamora, Drax and Star-Lord, are not exactly the brightest bunch of characters but together they are all a make-shift family. Thanks to filmmaker James Gunn, the Guardians of the Galaxy went from a very expensive risk to a blockbuster sensation almost a decade ago! The characters have since appeared with the Avengers and also with Thor. The Guardians of the Galaxy are not special, they’re quirky, they’re outlaws and they’re different from other superheroes. They had no right to be so charming and charismatic and now here we are with their supposed swan song - Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has expanded since the first film and other characters such as Kraglin, Nebula and Mantis have since joined the team with another new addition, Cosmo the telekinetic space dog, being introduced in this film too. Following on from the events of the previous films and the Avengers films, the group of idiots, led by Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, are still listening to rock anthems and making a mess with their supposed rescue missions. Returning enemy Ayesha sends an artificial being, Adam Warlock who is played by Will Poulter, after the Guardians and this is what kick-starts their latest adventure. What follows is a film almost centred around Rocket, the raccoon mentioned earlier, and about his tragic past. The film navigates alien locations and space battles as the characters go against the High Evolutionary, a character who has a connection with Rocket and his past. To say more though would spoil the story.
Firstly, I have to admit I was very wary of whether filmmaker James Gunn could pull this film off considering the amount of action and characters that is come to be expected from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, there are a lot of characters, with Adam Warlock being a great new addition but is sadly sidelined for most of the plot, and there is also plenty of action too, but the heart and humour from the previous films are back and you remember why we love these characters so much - they’re just as flawed and human as we are. Each character is questioning their place in the world and what their future holds, and that coupled together with Rocket’s past brings the film into an almost emotional crescendo. From start to finish the film pulls off a lot of emotional beats and yes a talking raccoon will make you weep, but Rocket’s story is so tender and tragic that you just can’t help it!
There are a lot of themes at play in this film, from animal experimentation to the idea of families and what family means to everyone. It may sound like a weighty film but the humour helps to make the film lighthearted enough not to make the film feel too bleak or as dark as other tragic stories - I’m looking at you, Batman! The main villain, the High Evolutionary, is played by Chukwudi Iwuji and he pulls off such a villainous performance that would even make Shakespeare proud. There are bad guys and then there are bad guys, and the High Evolutionary is the latter, he is simply not a nice person. He has done horrible acts for horrible reasons and almost makes the Guardians’ mission to stop him almost all the more urgent and desperate. The film also has an abundance of visual effects which goes hand-in-hand with the hefty story, and yes some of the visuals may look off-kilter but that is neither here nor there. The CGI characters feel real and the more earth-bound locations are set-based instead of green screen-based and luckily is less distracting and doesn’t diminish this film at all.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 is the perfect end to this trilogy and of course there are set-ups for possible adventures for certain characters, but if you view this trilogy as a trilogy and not small stories stuck in a larger story then you will appreciate what filmmaker James Gunn has achieved. He’s a great writer and he makes the characters come to life and embrace their oddness and insecurities instead of relying on their good looks and hero-saving charms. It is refreshing to have superheroes which other people can relate to and that makes this final film even more bittersweet. We are left wanting more and I for one am devastated that I will no longer see these characters all together again on the big screen.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 is a rare third film that goes for more emotion than action. As a result, we are treated to a story centred around Rocket, the talking raccoon. His past will make you cry and his future even more so. Rocket has become the most valued character of the group. Drax, Gamora, Groot, Nebula and Peter all get some sort of closure for their storylines too and their characters have made an everlasting impression and a long-standing legacy. This is one superhero franchise that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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