With plenty of swagger and panache this, supposedly, last in the Guardians series making a neat trilogy, is a fun filled, overlong but simply great entertaining sci-fi fantasy spectacular. As a cinephile that is less and less attracted to the superhero genre and especially the MCU films I still have a great fondness for the Guardians films. They stand apart from the complex Avengers films and are all the better for it and much of this is to do with the injection of laugh out loud humour. Chris Pratt has cemented himself as a movie star with these films and he carries on admirably here as the lovelorn Peter Quill mourning the loss of his beloved Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) who has to rouse himself to save his friend Rocket (Bradley Cooper) who is badly wounded and dying. This sends the Guardians on a mission to retrieve a life saving code held by the big baddie and sends the story into the secrets of Rocket's past. This cues loads of great effects and space battles with Dave Bautista especially brilliant as Drax. A big spectacular comic book science fiction film that is pure entertainment.
It was a much better film than Vol. 2 and the best Guardians outing since Vol. 1.
A well-made film by James Gunn, who understands the core elements of this series and always adds an unexpected touch to the action.
Top-focused performances from all around. I liked Zoe Saldana's edgier Gamora and warmed to Will Poulter's Adam Warlock.
Rocket Racoon was totally believable, and full marks to the SFX teams.
Should there be a Vol. 4? I would normally say no-please-no, but I think you could get this team back together again and squeeze in one more film.
The MCU is in a bit of mess now, and the last one i watched, the Dr Strange one was utter rubbish (lets ignore the latest spiderman movie, that was exceptional by any standerd) Ive not even bothered renting tripe like the eternals, marvels etc.
But id heard this one was ok. And indeed it is. The humour is carpet bombed and damages the film. Some of it lands and is in keeping with the Guardians, but there is simply to much.
The film in general is also a bit shallow, its not something you are going to remember or be desperate to see again. Its a film that feels like parts of it were done by a team of 5 year olds.
However, it is saved by 2 things. Firstly, and mainly is Rocket. This irritating character has his back story told. And boy is it sad and superbly done and really brings a new dimension to this character. This is MCU story telling at its very best.
And the second thing is the least favoured, least populer set of characters - if you didnt know them already. For some reason it just works.
Hopefully its over now, we dont need anymore.
And it hurts me to say this as they dont deserve our money, but its worth watching.