Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a heartbreaking but ultimately beautiful and bittersweet send-off for its titular group of characters. And with its condemnation of animal cruelty and animal testing, it cements its status as one of the most important and relevant superhero movies yet.
Overall Score: 10/10
Image: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Good endings are hard to pull off. Just look at some of Hollywood’s most infamous examples of failed attempts. The Godfather Part III was a bit of a letdown, The Matrix series failed twice with Revolutions and Resurrections, and boy, don’t even get me started on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
So naturally, although I had high hopes, I was admittedly skeptical. Skeptical as to whether James Gunn and Marvel would be able to truly stick the landing with this final installment in the universally beloved Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Luckily, they succeeded and, in the process, have given us one of the best and perhaps most important MCU movies to date.
Set sometime after the events of Avengers: Endgame and last year’s Drax and Mantis-centric holiday special, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 finds our titular group of heroes in a race against time to protect and save one of their own and bring an end to one of the biggest and most diabolical threats they’ve ever faced.
That’s all I’ll say about the premise, but as you either already know or may have already guessed, this is the most personal Guardians of the Galaxy film yet. All the main characters have come a long way from where they first began, and we see very clearly that they’ve gone from being a group of bickering friends to a loving and close-knit family. It’s a development that feels natural, and on a thematic level, it brings this trilogy’s ongoing theme of found family to a rather satisfying conclusion.
Speaking of themes, like its predecessors, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 once again features thematic elements that are both profound and true to the nature of the human condition. And while it’s still very much about love and family at its core, it also deals with things like self-acceptance, the importance of facing one’s past and traumas, and the difficult but necessary process of moving on. These are all powerful and meaningful themes, and their inclusion allows for some genuinely great character moments that ultimately help each of the Guardians move forward as individuals.
Another highlight of this film is its cast’s performances. Everyone from Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldaña to Karen Gillan and Bradley Cooper is outstanding and gets to show off their range and full acting abilities. Heck, even Sean Gunn (Kraglin) and Maria Bakalova (Cosmo) get a chance to shine, and boy, do they steal every scene they’re in. But for me, the most surprising standout performance has to be that of Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary. It’s not easy to make a lasting impression as a villain in a franchise that’s already overloaded with baddies, but by playing the character with such intensity and imbuing him with such madness and detestability, Iwuji ensures that his performance will continue to be remembered long after the credits finish rolling.
Tonally, this is also the darkest of the three Guardians movies. But as I mentioned above, because these characters have gone through so much growth, this tonal shift feels fully earned — and honestly, I think it works in the film’s favor. I say this because with this new dark tone comes a surprising exploration and condemnation of two very relevant real-world problems, namely animal cruelty and animal testing. And unlike many other movies that simply gloss over issues like these, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 quite admirably tackles them head-on.
The film doesn’t hold back in showing us the disturbing and horrific nature of the suffering of animals at the hands of humans, and as a result, it makes it all the more heartbreaking and gut-wrenching to watch. James Gunn is trying to get three very important messages across: animal cruelty is wrong, it’s wrong to experiment on animals, and all life matters. And though subject matter like this isn’t easy to sit through, I’d argue that audiences should be reminded of the ugly side of our human-dominated world.
Before I end this review, I’d like to mention that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is much more graphic and intense in terms of violence than your typical MCU film. Granted, this does fit the darker tone and more mature feel, but I’m honestly shocked that it managed to earn a PG-13 rating when, in all honesty, it probably should’ve been rated R. There are blood sprays, decapitated heads, limb breaking, and so many other forms of violence you’d only expect to see in an adult-oriented film. And while, personally, none of this bothers me, I’d strongly advise not bringing your children or younger siblings with you to watch this movie.
In conclusion, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a bittersweet and satisfying send-off for its titular family of spacefaring heroes. It’s epic and deeply emotional, but perhaps most crucially, it’s relevant and has something to say about real-world issues. And for me, that makes it one of the most important superhero movies — and certainly one of the best MCU films — ever made. James Gunn should be applauded for what he’s done here, and hopefully, his work will be able to do some good in the long run and help change how people treat and think about animals.
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