They say nothing is ever quite like your first, and this holds true for James Gunn. The first Guardians of the Galaxy, which came out in 2014, is still the best-reviewed film in the trilogy with a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes (The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special doesn’t count since it’s technically more of a spin-off). And, while most audiences were hoping that last year’s Christmas film featuring the motley crew of space-faring heroes was a sign that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 would end the series on a high note, the truth is, it’s not. But, make no mistake, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 still very much retains the heart and soul of James Gunn’s mini MCU franchise.
Ahead of the film’s premiere on May 5, critics got a chance to share their thoughts about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
As per the reviews, the film is a thrilling and emotional ride for the fans who’ve come to love Chris Pratt’s Starlord and his company. Unfortunately, the beginning of the end for this bunch of makeshift heroes, while heartbreaking if bittersweet, suffers from a common criticism of the Phase 4 and Phase 5 MCU films.
Gamespot’s Phil Owens put it simply when he said:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 from writer/director James Gunn, is very well-crafted, hilarious, and, yes, touching. I even teared up a couple times. But once the post-credits scene came to an end and the lights in the theater came up, I was already over it.
Owens isn’t alone in this regard, as evidenced by the 80% Rotten Tomatoes score of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Here’s a round-up of the most notable reviews of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3:
- Empire Magazine – 4/5
- HeyUGuys – 4/5
- RogerEbert.com 3/4
- GameSpot – 7/10
- New York Post – 2/4
- Slant Magazine – 2/4
Make no mistake, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is still one of the “top” MCU films, but it’s barely clinging to its spot in the Top 20. If it’s any consolation, it’s one of the better-reviewed MCU films to come out post-Endgame, which is a distinction it shares with Black Widow and Spider-Man: No Way Home from two years ago and last year’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Heading into its theatrical release, the expectation is for James Gunn and its threequel to elevate the MCU from its recent string of relatively lackluster runs.
Already, the Guardians of the Galaxy finale has an “event-level film” appeal to it even though it probably won’t affect the larger MCU universe now that it’s mostly concerned about time travel and traveling through space has become yesterday’s news.
With critics having made their thoughts known, the deciding factor now is the audience.
So far, Guardians of the Galaxy hasn’t made at least a billion at the global box office. Is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 going to be the first in the series to reach that mark? We’ll find out more if MCU’s latest blockbuster can fight off a certain Italian plumber on May 5.
