Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The third outing in his franchise, James Gunn’s ultimate tribute to diversity packs in more entertainment value than we have reason to expect.
Bradley Cooper as Rocket, in, er, a rocket
How did Rocket get to be so grumpy? He doesn’t really want to talk about it. In fact, many of those who know him aren’t even sure what creature he is. Sylvester Stallone’s Stakar Ogord refers to him as a hedgehog , while even Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) thinks he’s a badger. The clue, of course, is in The Beatles’ song ‘Rocky Raccoon’. James Gunn, who also wrote and directed the first two volumes of the Guardians of the Galaxy canon, is prone to referencing cultural sources, from Shakespeare to the Bible and Footloose. James Gunn is the best director working for Marvel and he should really be as instantly recognisable a household name as Spielberg and Cameron.
So, back to Rocket – voiced by Bradley Cooper – whose backstory is unpacked here, with the opening shot revealing a gaze of raccoon cubs whose expectant faces convey hope and horror in equal measure. And then a giant human hand looms out of the screen and Rocket’s POV is established from the start. However, at this point in the story Rocket is known only as P-1-3. As this is a pre-credit sequence, it should be OK to divulge that the cub is part of a genetic engineering programme set up by the film’s antagonist, The High Evolutionary. The latter declares, “be not as you are, but as you should be” and embarks on a course of genetic modification which embellishes the film with fantastical hybrids of Mother Nature with mechanical and computerised accessories (a walrus on wheels is a humdinger). As His Evolutionary shouts, “there is no God – that’s why I stepped in!”, it is all the more chilling that he is played by the Anglo-Nigerian actor Chukwudi Iwuji. Extolling the virtues of our own planet, graced by great literature, art and music – but blighted by ignorance and bigotry – he creates a new world, Counter-Earth, populated by his own creations, humanoid mongrels trapped in a mundane facsimile of modern suburbia.
While the quest to rescue Rocket drives the predominant motor of the sequel, there is a ton going on besides, with Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff and Vin (“I am Groot”) Diesel all returning in their old guises, albeit with fresh agendas. There are more characters too, and an astonishing new realm, the Orgoscope, which beggars the imagination. Considering how well trodden the sci-fi genre it is, it is a testament to Gunn’s limitless vision and ingenuity that he can bring so much novelty to the playing field. The mind-blowing sets and effects besides, there are lashings of humour and thrills, some terrific dialogue, and an emotional undercurrent that is genuinely affecting. All set to Peter Quill’s exhilarating playlist (Radiohead, Earth, Wind and Fire, Florence + The Machine, Springsteen).
In fact, there is so much going on in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, so many storylines, so many characters, so many set pieces and exotic creatures, that it could have merited a longer running time. It is such a big, noisy, sprawling, genuinely epic and sometimes ungainly beast, that the occasional pause might have benefitted the larger picture. As it is, the badinage and combat come so thick and fast, that one really has to keep up. In fact, Gunn lays out such a rich banquet that repeated viewings would be beneficial, something one can’t say often about a superhero entry. As it stands, Vol. 3 is possibly the most emotional Marvel movie to date, as well as being funny and exciting. And profound. A third helping might have proved too much, but Gunn’s wildly diverse Guardians are such engaging principals that the show can just run and run. The Legendary Star-Lord will return, we are told.
JAMES CAMERON-WILSON
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, Maria Bakalova, Daniela Melchior, Nico Santos, Miriam Shor, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Rooker, Sylvester Stallone, Mikaela Hoover, Gregg Henry, Sarah Alami, Judy Greer, Lloyd Kaufman, Kai Zen, Christopher Fairbank, Jennifer Holland, Pete Davidson, James Gunn.
Dir James Gunn, Pro Kevin Feige, Screenplay James Gunn, Ph Henry Braham, Pro Des Beth Mickle, Ed Fred Raskin and Greg D'Auria, Music John Murphy, Costumes Judianna Makovsky, Sound David Acord and Chris Diebold.
Marvel Studios-Walt Disney Studios.
149 mins. USA/Canada/New Zealand. 2023. UK Rel: 3 May 2023. US Rel: 5 May 2023. Cert. 12A.
