May 8, 2023 · Watch the trailer
For several years now, producer Kevin Feige has been trying to figure out where to go next and his efforts to guide the ship have left the Marvel Cinematic Universe relatively rudderless as it flails about seemingly in circles.
With the onset of comic book fatigue in a post-“Avengers: Endgame” world, it’s become increasingly rare that a superhero movie with its convoluted storylines tying into even more obscure realms of nerd culture and lore have made attracting and maintaining a consistent fan base difficult for studios.
“Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3” – the third and final film from writer/director James Gunn before he sets off to produce rival DC Comics cinematic universe – wraps up its own tales while seemingly leaving Marvel even more directionless than before its release.
It’s a film incredibly out of place within the larger context of the MCU as COVID-19 delays and the firing and subsequent rehiring of Gunn significantly delayed production and pushed “Vol. 3” further down the release calendar than probably intended as this “Guardians” film should have been one of the very first to tackle the aftermath of “Endgame” and help conclude that chapter.
The film follows the titular team of unlikely superheroes for one last cosmic adventure as they must race to save the life of a comatose Rocket Raccoon, who relives his horrific childhood in a series of flashbacks while Starlord and the rest of the crew chase down his creator, the nefarious High Commander.
Gunn’s film feels a little out of its element as Marvel breaks off into different areas of the cosmos and world building that Feige and Gunn attempt to establish at the end of the second “Guardians” film falls flat due to conflicting storylines.
Specifically, the Adam Warlock character revealed at the end of the second film comes across more as a weak afterthought rather than the primary antagonist he was teased to be, cramming him within a narrative that ventures in far too many directions all at once.
Built over the years as an ensemble movie, “Guardians” typically leaned heavily on Chris Pratt’s Starlord to be both the narrative throughline and emotional core of the film, but Pratt takes a backseat to some solid performances by Dave Bautista as Drax and Pom Klementiefff as Mantis as well as an exception turn from Karen Gillan’s Nebula to take the reins of the third film.
The foundation of “Vol. 3” that makes the film tick, however, comes from Bradley Cooper’s vocal performance as Rocket Raccoon, a character that comes across rather silly or ridiculous in early appearance in the MCU until Gunn infuses a deep emotional core with his strongest screenplay work in the franchise.
The revelation of Rocket’s backstory is weighty stuff by Marvel standards and Cooper brings a deep sadness to the character that really shines amid all the flash, pomp and circumstance in Marvel’s CGI-heavy action sequences and it’s through the lens of Rocket that viewers will come to understand why the film needed to be made at all.
“Vol. 3” is a perfectly fine superhero film with considerable heart and genuine character development; however, Marvel continues to remain in cinematic limbo for future storylines.
This final installment of the current “Guardians” lineup – which will inevitably be revitalized in Disney’s quest for money – does not hold water in comparison to earlier MCU films and suggesting that it rightfully is one of the better Marvel movies in some time doesn’t mean as much as it might at first glance.
It’s almost as if Feige and his staff want audiences to enjoy individual films in the moment while forgetting the fact that they have all been carefully crafted for synergy and long-term storytelling, hoping audiences will forgive the fact that the MCU seems to be figuring out and ret-conning its narrative on a film-by-film basis.
“Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3” certainly remains one of the better entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the past several years although its strengths aren’t necessarily enough to make it worthwhile for casual audiences to head to theaters alongside ardent comic book fans.
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