Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
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KNOWHERE — The Guardians of the Galaxy have recovered from the madness of "Endgame" and are back for another solo adventure.
In my opinion — which is worth an old cheeseburger to many of you — Marvel has struggled since "Endgame." The Marvel Cinematic Universe was building to this massive event for over a decade, and things have felt flat since then. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" hopes to buck that trend.
The new movie caps the Guardians trilogy and is in a world post-Thanos and the Snap. I tend to be critical of superhero flicks and Marvel movies, in particular. I've grown a little tired of what seems like the same setup and payoff in nearly every movie, but a few have really stood out to me, and I have to say, "Volume 3" is one of them.
Here are a few reasons I enjoyed watching "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."
The story
Marvel movies have a formula. Sure, the villains and the heroes are different but, for the most part, someone or something is threatening the world or even the universe. This force is more potent than our hero, who either needs to build or regain confidence and fight this unbeatable force. At first, they will fail, but in the end, they find the strength they didn't know they had and, eventually, beat this evil, whatever you may have.
In "Volume 3," the Guardians aren't too concerned with the galaxy and, instead, take care of one of their own. I won't give any spoilers, but writer/director James Gunn has crafted a story that spans multiple worlds and still feels very personal. Sure, the Guardians have a mighty bad dude to fight, but their more significant battles include personal growth and bonds with each other. There is plenty at stake in the film. Still, the intimate nature of the story was far more interesting to me than another baddie hoping to take over the world just because. The bad guy wants that, but that's not the story's focus or the reason the Guardians are fighting, and that felt refreshing.
It's a fun couple of hours
Did I write a "fun couple of hours?" I meant a fun two hours and 30 minutes. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is not a short movie, but it did not feel long. I was into the story and having such a good time that I didn't notice how late it was when I left the theater.
I had a great time with the first "Guardians" movie, but was let down with the second. This one felt like a more grown-up version of the first movie, with just as many laughs, more action and plenty of heart. While I am not the biggest Marvel fan, my main criterion for these movies is whether they entertain me. And, they usually do a pretty good job. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" accomplished this feat in spades.
There are some fantastic fight sequences to get your heart pounding and lots of jokes to keep you smiling. The movie knows when to pull at your heartstrings, but also manages to never take itself too seriously. A challenging line to toe.
Conclusion
This is a short review, but "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is something you need to see to understand.
In addition to that, I really want to make sure the story is good for you. I was surprised by the direction the movie went, and I mean that in a good way. The less you know where we're headed on this journey, the better.
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is not my favorite Marvel movie. Still, it's the best one I've seen since "Endgame," and it's different. It feels like a Marvel movie, but it somehow feels like its own subcategory of the MCU. It's almost like the black sheep of the MCU family, but the one you can't help but love and appreciate its antics, even though you wouldn't go there yourself.
Make sure to read my parent's review of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3." This is the closest to an R rating an MCU film has crept to in my book. Before you light up the comment boards, "Deadpool" is not currently considered a part of the MCU. I think "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" should be PG-13, but it is a harder PG-13.
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is officially rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, strong language, suggestive/drug references and thematic elements.
