Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is James Gunn’s farewell to the MCU, is just days away now. It’ll be the first time that we get to see our favorite band of misfits after the events of Avengers: Endgame, which didn’t end all too well for them.
GOTG has been one of Marvel’s most successful franchises. Since its debut back in 2014, the Guardians have become a vital – and loved – part of the MCU, even playing a crucial role in the last Avengers story. Unfortunately, the Guardians, as we know them, will fight their final fight with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
The possibility of new-gen renewals and cameos in other films can never be ruled out with Marvel, but this cast-writer-director group will sign off with the threequel.
What is the plot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
Rocket will be the central character in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as the group fights their final battle to save his life.
The Guardians, still reeling from the loss of their Gamora, are seen adjusting to life on Knowhere when Rocket’s past makes an unexpected return. A new villain Adam Warlock attempts (and fails) to kidnap him, and the Guardian ends up getting critically injured. This kicks off a series of events that unveils Rocket’s past and leads to the return of a familiar face from GOTG Vol. 2 post credits scene – The High Priestess.
What do the early reviews look like?
The Hollywood Reporter – “Overstuffed but satisfying trilogy capper”
“The film’s wildly imaginative visuals are another plus, with the proceedings feeling so bizarrely trippy at times it’s as if Gunn is aiming to create a midnight cult classic rather than a blockbuster superhero film.”
“A brilliant end to a brilliant trilogy.” 💫
Experience Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in theaters May 5. Get tickets now: https://t.co/eRzaW2H4R5 #GotGVol3 pic.twitter.com/wSFMItlOfZ
— Guardians of the Galaxy (@Guardians) April 30, 2023
According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck, GOTG3 has made for a fitting end to Gunn’s time with MCU. He seems to have outdone himself with the third film of a franchise that itself made a name for breaking out of Marvel’s usual template. Outdoing himself aside, he has also overdone it in some regards, as the overall storyline of the film feels overcrowded and a bit too complicated.
Screen Rant – “A triumph”
“Ultimately, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the weirdest, grimmest, most emotional entry in Gunn’s MCU franchise, but it’s also the strongest.”
To Screen Rant’s Molly Freeman, GOTG3 signifies growth all around – for the characters, the story, and Gunn’s filmmaking. While Drax has grown out of his sexist humor, the movie’s score – which has always been a fan-favorite element of GOTG movies – carries more weight and impact.
Forbes – “A beautiful bittersweet goodbye”
“James Gunn makes movies about broken, hurt people who come to realize maybe everybody is a little bit broken and a little bit hurt, maybe everybody needs to lean on someone now and then, maybe everybody needs to let someone else lean on them, and maybe — just maybe — it means we aren’t broken after all.”
A new clip from ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3’ has been released.
(Source: @Collider) pic.twitter.com/80OQFPTgiF
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 25, 2023
While the movie’s action, humor, and visuals did stand out for Forbes’ Mark Hughes, what took the spotlight was the film’s emotional undertones. The movie does mark the end of the Guardians as we know them; it also marks the end of the Guardians as they know themselves. In that case, GOTG3 explores the group’s struggles of who they are without each other – something they’ll have to confront once the inevitable happens.
BBC – “Unruly and excessive”, “sweetly touching”
“But in the final scenes, Gunn’s sincere love for his characters, and their love for each other, becomes infectious. The actors deserve much of the credit. They all sell the relationships more convincingly here than in either of the previous Guardians instalments.”
For BBC’s Nicholas Barber, GOTG3‘s complicated and everything-everywhere-all-at-once plot overshadows the emotional power the film packs. There is almost always too much going on, so much so that it gets hard to keep track of what’s happening. While the movie does pack a lot of emotions, the dialogue writing could’ve been a bit less forced.
All in all, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is definitely a swan song you cannot miss. Whether you watch it for the characters, the plot, or the action scenes, one thing is for sure – this movie will have you feeling the feels.
