Guardians of The Galaxy Brings it Full Circle with Laughters, Tears and Fun

“Listen, next they’re going to tell you that this is Rocket’s story,” Chris Pratt jokingly states. “It’s not. It’s always going be Peter Quill’s story, aka legendary outlaw. Don’t forget that.” And THAT would be the best way to describe how this final chapter of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 goes down and Pratt would be right.

We find our beloved band of misfits looking a bit different. After acquiring Knowhere from the Collector, the Guardians are set on repairing the extreme damage done by Thanos and are determined to make Knowhere a safe-haven, not only for themselves, but for all refugees displaced by the harsh universe. Notably missing is Peter Quill, who we find in the Boot of Jemiah, trying to drown his sorrows over losing his beloved Gamora.

It isn’t long before the Guardians’ attempt to return to normal is interrupted.  After years of experimenting on helpless creatures, The High Evolutionary is determined on taking back what he feels is rightly his—Rocket. The Guardians rally to protect Rocket’s life at all cost and if not completed successfully, it could all quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

One of the staples of this franchise is the emotionality brought on by this group of characters.  Director/writer Peter Gunn excels with sucking the audience in hook, line and sinker for this last adventure.  The soundtrack is pure fire and never disappoints and neither does new addition Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary (making this the second time this year we are seeing a Marvel villain as a person of color). Iwuji commands the screen and upstages everyone on it each and every time he appears with mad scientist vibes disguised as compassion making him more than compelling to watch.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is an emotional rollercoaster where one minute you are laughing, the next getting choked up near tears and ultimately sitting on the edge of your seat wondering how and when the brakes will be hit.  The brakes are never really engaged, but in the end you realize that one’s imperfections are what what make us unique, interesting and worth the ride – a ride that we all have been privileged to ride with one the most imperfectly perfect ragtag group of the universe.