The guardians are back to saving the world, only this time they’re here to save the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Just when you think you’ve had it with Marvel, fed up by the way the studio churns out the same thing over and over, the guardians come along to spice things up. Like the protagonist (Chris Pratt) who waltzes through life to a joyous soundtrack, the “volumes” dance to the beat of their own drum. As written and directed by James Gunn, these movies feel like they come from a singular mind instead of a corporate entity, and you can actually tell that someone has put their DNA into the mix. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, there are real signs of life.
For starters, the film’s action sequences are packed to the brim with whimsy. Let the Avengers take on aliens in a bland skyscraper; these guys are here to fight crime in a building made of flesh. But what really makes the difference is the emphasis on character development. Many of these superheroes, including Starlord (Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Drax (Dave Bautista), feel like human beings rather than pawns in the studio’s endgame. Because Gunn’s writing is more singular than most, fans have made connections with the people on screen, to the point where you may even hear a few sniffles in the crowd as our band of misfits team up for one last ride.
It’s never easy saying goodbye to someone you love, but it’s even harder when that person is dead. When we catch up with Starlord, he’s in a bar mourning the loss of his girlfriend, who died in Avengers: Endgame but who has somehow come back to life. Gamora doesn’t remember the pair being in a relationship, however, which makes things awkward when Starlord tries to win her back. That leaves Drax in charge of cheering up our depressed hero, since he’s the only one who can help the crew outrun a villain who has been after Rocket (Bradley Cooper) for years.
In flashbacks, we learn how Rocket was born, how a scientist named High…
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