Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) [Spoiler-Free] – Quick Review

 

Guardians Vol. 3 wastes no time getting right into the thick of things. The opening sequence sets the tone in a big way: this movie is going to be sad. We open on Rocket contemplating his painful past, Peter drowning his sorrows on the loss of (his) Gamora, and the team generally in disarray. This is more character-driven than what we’ve seen from this series so far. As soon as that emotional tone is set, the action kicks in, and gorgeous visual effects are showcased. And when the dust settles on the fight, the team is now re-energized with a new urgent mission to get them moving again. The Guardians now have to race against time to save a life. 

 

This movie isn’t without its problems. The High Evolutionary, played devilishly by Chukwudi Iwuji, falls into the usual Marvel trappings of a villain who has more power than the writers know what to do with, who plays the same beat of doing evil things but truly thinks they are serving a noble purpose, and who ultimately lacks that staying power in the overall narrative. Iwuji understood the assignment well and really brought his A-game, but he is limited by the script and story given to him. 

 

Fair warning for parents who may have an issue with this: this movie features Marvel’s first official F-bomb, and also contains animal scenes that may upset more sensitive viewers. 

 

Guardians Vol. 3 proves that Marvel Studios’ biggest problem in its nearly two decades was their rollercoaster relationship with James Gunn. He created a fan-favorite franchise within the MCU, and now he’s working with their biggest competitor. But alas, here we are. And like I said, those who are still all-in on the MCU, you’re seeing this movie no matter what I say, or whatever James Gunn does.