Considering the "long teaser for future movies" narrative format that has long been among the biggest and most consistent flaws in the MCU, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 feels like a fucking miracle. It tells a contained yet deeply consequential, character-driven story (the film is solely based on a mission that reunites the original team and explores the previously untold backstory of Rocket Raccoon) that relies heavily on the relationships between its characters and this whacky little thing called genuine human emotion to engage the audience. By telling this specific story through the lens of a last hoorah for everybody involved, both Gunn and his returning cast (Pratt, Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Sean Gunn) felt compelled to go all-out in service of concluding these characters' shared journey. This specific mission provides plenty of moments for the team to be their usual goofy selves as they bicker over objectives and how to execute to them, but it's also a much darker, somber journey that forces them to cope with a lot of very heavy things including Gamora no longer being the person they knew and loved, facing the demons you've spent your entire life running away from and the very real threat of losing each other forever as they face off against a powerful, God-like figure named The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji-best known to comic fans as Murn from Gunn's Peacemaker-who makes for a refreshingly despicable, menacing MCU villain) that is hell bent to extract revenge on Rocket.
When the final scenes arrive, a tidal wave of emotion comes with them. These characters have grown together over the course of multiple movies and seeing them come to terms with their identities, the difficult yet necessary act of acceptance that is saying goodbye to the people that you love and gaining the strength to face their fears through the love they built for each other results in moments that are heartbreaking and beautiful in equal measure. No superhero movie has ever possessed a heart this large or pure and despite all of the really great shit that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 has going for it (villain, comedy, action, CGI/prosthetics, pacing, some really freaky/weird/disturbing body horror moments), the sensitive, powerful writing from Gunn and the beautifully realized performances from this ensemble that made this emotional closing of a chapter in the lives of these characters that care deeply for each other sing is easily the biggest reason this movie is so impressive.
As silly, over-the-top reactionary and toxic as the online discourse surrounding superhero movies and the narratives that stem from them can be, Gunn came in at a time where the public opinion towards the genre is the most negative it's been since at least the mid-2010's and made something that reminded people of just how fucking great these movies can be when they're crafted by people that give a shit about the product they're making. These movies-MCU or otherwise- are usually so devoid of a personal touch and any real care towards the handling of its characters that when someone comes along with a distinct voice and deep love and respect for the people in the stories they're telling, it feels like somebody let Guy Fieri loose in a massive micromanaged kitchen that doesn't tend to breed much in the way of out of bounds flavors. What lies ahead for both the Guardians and the broader MCU after Vol.3 is alarmingly uncertain, but one thing is for sure: the future of DC couldn't be in better hands with Gunn helping build their new road map as both a filmmaker and executive.
Grade: A
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