"Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3" Movie Review: Marvel's Still Got It

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 hit theaters last weekend. The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe offering was also the final entry for the beloved team that's been a part of fans' hearts since 2014. It also marked the final time James Gunn will work with Marvel since he's been hired to fill the Kevin Fiege role at DC Studios. What a way for them all to go out [SPOILERS AHEAD]. James Gunn & Co. have delivered a perfect swan song for their beloved team.

This is, at its core, a story about Rocket Raccoon. The feisty character, voiced by the stellar Bradley Cooper, has been a key part of what was always considered Peter Quill's story. With the third installment, Gunn shifted the focus while also showcasing that the story was always about all of them. [Light spoilers] When talking with a friend, Rocket is told that it's always been his story. That may very well be true, but the film devotes a lot of time to giving every character what they need.

Rocket, naturally, gets a lot of attention. His painstaking backstory is put on screen for all to see, with the most gruesome parts being left to our imaginations. Even though the present-day version is out of commission for about 40 percent of the film, he's still the most prominent character. His arc and character growth from the first film to now is on full display and it's excellent work from all involved.

By this time, the Guardians crew has grown. It now includes Groot, Rocket, Star-Lord, Gamora, Nebula, Drax, Mantis, Kraglin, Cosmo, and several other key characters. Each of them gets enough screen time to satisfy and good depth. The story is Rocket's, but one could argue that it's just as much about each of the rest of them.

Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, embarks on his final journey. He finally accepts what has happened to him and decides to stop running from his past. Over the last decade, Quill has been a key member of the MCU without ever really returning to his traumatic home. It wraps up his story nicely.

Gamora is not even the same Gamora. That version died, and this version is from 2014, when she hadn't undergone any character growth. That's challenging work for a thespian, but Zoe Saldana handles it perfectly. She has to experience a new arc and come to a new place for the character, and the film handles that well, too.

Drax, who is often considered the big dumb idiot of the group, finally sees his own value. He's finally shown to have value after largely being the comic relief for the first two films. Nebula also ascends to leader status, something that suits her perfectly. Kraglin, still reeling from losing his friend Yondu, can't master his new weapon. He suffers from anxiety over everything. He, too, has an impressive, if muted, character arc. Every character shines in their own way.

From the editing to the cinematography and from the acting to the costumes, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is one of the best entries in the MCU. The acting, in particular, stands out. The voice acting for Rocket and Young Rocket, a.k.a. 89P13, is excellent. Chris Pratt isn't exactly known for his range, but he puts on a dynamic performance ad Star-Lord—by far his best Marvel outing. As mentioned, Saldana excels in her role, too.

Perhaps the film's best and most welcome performance is by newcomer Chukwudi Iwuji. The actor collaborated with Gunn on his DC television show Peacemaker, which debuts in Marvel here. He plays the villainous High Evolutionary, and he does it extremely well. Good films need menacing villains, and that's exactly what Iwuji brings to the table. He also brings a complex nature to the role so that his villain is at least somewhat morally complicated. Like Thanos before him, his crimes are in pursuit of what he perceives as a better world in Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

The performance was not without challenges. Iwuji had to be unnaturally cruel to animals, which is hard for most people. "But I have to say, the first time I saw — I was doing an ADR or something, and I saw a scene with Rocket's eyes, I literally saw my dog's eyes...I saw his face, and I was like, 'I am going to hell,' when I saw that," he said in an interview. "It really helped that when I was dealing with the animals, I wasn't really dealing with any animals, because it would have been much harder that way. My agent couldn't talk to me properly for like two days after a screening. She went home and hugged her dog, and was like, 'I don't know how I can talk to you.'" It translated to one of the best villain performances in the MCU.

While it's always hard for MCU actors to get Oscar recognition (save for Angela Bassett last year), look for Iwuji to have at least some steam for a Best Supporting Actor nomination from Guardians of the Galaxy 3. The year is very young, and it could be a stacked field. Still, there will be plenty calling for recognition for his impressive performance. Eventually, the MCU will break through that ceiling.

Not to be overlooked, Will Poulter added a fresh face to the cast. Adam Warlock, who was teased at the end of Volume 2, showed up in a big way in Guardians of the Galaxy 3. One of Marvel's most powerful characters made his on-screen debut, and Poulter ate it up. Playing a prematurely born Greek god is no easy feat, and the actor easily stepped into the role. His journey in the MCU will be one to look out for.

The reports of the death of the MCU may have been greatly exaggerated. Phase 4 was met with a lot of disappointment, and Phase 5 was off to an inauspicious start with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While Phase 4 was not as poor as many said, it was a step down from Phase 3. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is a step back up.

Many believe it to be the best MCU movie to date, and that's not exactly a hot take. On Letterboxd, the popular movie review app, it has a 4.2 combined score. That's the highest of any film—topping Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: No Way Home's 4.0. On Rotten Tomatoes, it is certified fresh, and it has an 8.4 on IMDb. That's tied for the best with Avengers Endgame and the aforementioned prequel to that one.

Many critics are calling it the best film since Endgame. That is to imply that it's been all downhill from there, but it's not the case. Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever were all excellent. Fans generally liked all of the television shows, too. Regardless, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is not just a top film for a given time. It's a top output in the entire franchise.

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