James Gunn steers the Guardians for one last time.
James Gunn’s third Guardians of the Galaxy movie is a happy, soppy, and knowingly anarchic heap of sensations. Gunn, working from his own script, packs into Vol. 3 the racoon Rocket’s back story, cuddly animals (including a talking dog with a Russian accent), weird creatures, an ode to friendship and throwbacks to the previous productions.
Just to be absolutely sure, well-chosen songs enliven every other scene. There is a bunch of cute kids, a cameo by Sylvester Stallone that lasts as long as it takes to say “Rocky Balboa”, plenty of heart-tugging scenes for anyone who felt that this franchise lacked an emotional quotient and an equal number of wacky moments for the rest who didn’t expect to be bawling in their seats. There are even high-minded references to genocide, animal testing and body positivity.
