James Gunn gives an emotional fitting finale to his gang of likeable misfits

Synopsis: The final chapter of the Guardians trilogy is a heart-warming tale of survival that follows the tragic past of Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper). His not so perfect friends must race against time to save their beloved raccoon and end his suffering.

Review: Beyond discovering the meaning of true friendship and finding family and home in complete strangers, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 takes a deeper look at our differing notion of perfection. For some, it is all about altering your flaws, for most, love makes everything look perfect. You learn to love people despite their flaws. The message is effective and leaves you teary-eyed, but the conflict feels more orchestrated than organic.

Gunn wastes no time as he introduces Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), who aims to destroy the Guardians’ new base of operations ‘Knowhere’ and uproot the space warriors. If this was just the beginning, the group must also face the brutal assault of the mastermind, ‘High Evolutionary’ (Chukwudi Iwuji), a geneticist obsessed with evolution and perfect society. He only wants the ‘perfect species’ to survive on counter-earth (a replica of Earth). All of this is rooted in Rocket’s turbulent past.

Can the charming and love-struck Star-Lord (Chris Pratt as Peter Quill), feisty sisters Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Rocket, Groot, Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista) embark on their final mission to put an end to the mad man’s atrocities?

The Guardians movie when it first dropped (2014), was perhaps looked upon as a film built around relatively obscure heroes. The mighty Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Hulk competed in the big race. Gunn’s movies made his intergalactic crew grow on you to the point that you don’t want to part ways with them.

Unlike the recent Marvel films, GOG3 isn’t chaotic despite the scale and elements involved. Gunn retains the good old charm of a noncomplex storyline at a time of multiverse madness and that feels hugely satisfying. While the humour is in abundance, it doesn’t dilute the gravity of a situation. Music works in tandem with the story and elevates the mood and action scenes are breath-taking.

You may not sob as much as you did in Avengers: Endgame but be prepared to be moved, entertained, and loved. Wait back for two post-credit scenes.