Title – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) 

Director – James Gunn (The Suicide Squad) 

Cast – Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Will Poulter, (voices of) Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel 

Plot – Everyone’s favorite oddball space crew are back for one last adventure with new foes threatening the fate of the entire universe if the Guardians don’t act.  

“Don’t forget where we came from”

Review by Eddie on 05/05/2023

With a long time coming F-bomb, multiple scenes that are likely to make the kidlets (and more than its fair share of adults) cry and a direct reference to meth, Guardians of the Galaxy is most definitely back for one more team adventure delivered under the watchful eye of new DC cinematic universe maestro James Gunn who ensures that this Marvel series with a difference is able to go out on its own terms in this current format and in turn save the MCU from a string of dire to forgettable outings that have plagued the company since their Avenger’s saga concluded with Endgame. 

Never more desperate for a feature that critics, audiences and box office results all were in favor for in unison since the dawn of the whole operation with 2008’s Iron Man, the MCU should be thankful they allowed Gunn back behind the helm after showing him the door due to past misdemeanor’s as Gunn and his cast clearly love working with one other and ensure that their shared love for their characters and the world they are a part of is one show here once more with Volume 3 of the Guardian’s universe likely to please all that have enjoyed the prior two outings that have surprised all with their public affection and money making abilities. 

Arguably more serious minded in many respects, with Gunn not afraid to enter into some seriously dark and twisted territory across Volume 3’s two and half hour runtime, it’s nice to once more watch a MCU feature that feels entirely removed in most instances from previous events or trying to set up future mash-ups, team-up’s or potential threats and in staying focused on itself Gunn is able to juggle the films heavy, light and playful tones to good effect, making this epic adventure one that never stays down for too long as we are carried across various set pieces and emotional undertakings. 

Using his same oddball charm and keen eye for visuals that have worked for him in the past both here and with his underappreciated Suicide Squad from the Covid-19 landscape, Gunn gives Marvel some of its best bang for buck moments in many a moon. 

Often backed by another rip-roaring soundtrack full of old school and more modern day jams, if audience’s have paid the ticket price wanting to be entertained by spectacle and inventiveness they will get it here, while others wanting heart too go along with it all will be equally pleased (with Rocket’s key backstory and arc playing a major role here), as will those more refined folk that perhaps just wanted to see a telekinetic dog or a brash golden boy in the form of Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock cause some havoc along the way. 

Uninterested in messing with the formula or Marvel DNA like it arguably did with its first outing in 2014, Volume 3 leaves the series on a high note if many of the cast and crew decide to stick to their word and move on from what they started those many moons ago, succeeding against the odds and if this is indeed the last time we see this particular group of misfits, miscreants and outcasts on screen in this way, there’s solid evidence to suggest that Gunn’s three Marvel films are the most consistent of all of Marvel’s properties in the cinematic cannon. 

Final Say – 

Rollicking along at a good pace across its substantial runtime and combining heart, laughter and spectacle together with a cast that are all seasoned and energetic professionals, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a (seemingly) fitting swansong to this ragtag crew that the world has understandably fallen in love with. 

4 mismanaged interrogations out of 5