If someone had told me in April 2019 that by the kick-off of the 2023 summer blockbuster season, the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be in turmoil, I would have laughed in their face. With the release of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel was running on such an incredible amount of momentum it was hard to picture an end to that run.

Since that release, the MCU has been living in a purgatory of its own making. Gone were the days when cinephiles would be pleasantly surprised by a Marvel release and enter a world where Marvel was oversaturating the market with a TV show that was NEEDED to watch to stay in tune with the overarching storylines and underwhelming film entries. Outside of No Way Home, Wakanda Forever, and Shang-Chi, the recent MCU fails to evoke the emotions that fans were accustomed to over the years once the Infinity Saga concluded.

The MCU with its back against the wall is unfamiliar territory but leave it to James Gunn to rescue Marvel from its self-inflicted woes with the best MCU film since 2019’s Avengers Endgame – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. 

This concludes the GOTG trilogy before Gunn moves on to helm the rebirth of the DCEU. After 2 hours and 30 minutes, I am hooked on a feeling and a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 high. It’s an emotional and epic conclusion to one, if not Marvel’s best trilogies. Hitting the trifecta of hilarity, tears, and cheers, James Gunn cements his place as one of the genre’s best visionaries. Led by Rocket Raccoon’s gut-punching origin, our beloved misfits receive a proper send-off.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 renters the world of our band of misfits as they attempt to adjust to life on the planet Knowhere. When the Guardians are visited by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), Rocket’s past enters the forefront of their lives and leads the group on a do-or-die mission that is set to change their lives forever.

In a similar fashion to the other entries in the trilogy, James Gunn’s screenplay is sharp, impactful, and full of wit. However, in what may be the darkest contained MCU entry, Gunn’s examination of exploration, PTSD, and family bonds is fully engaging and tear-inducing throughout. Not since Avengers: Endgame has an MCU film evoked so many tears from this cinephile.

Unlike the last few years of MCU visual effects, GOTG Vol. 3 offers the series’ best makeup, production design, and visual effects. Unfortunately, the sleek production design and VFX leads to action sequences short of spellbinding. While the VFX-filled third acts of these MCU films may be a deterrent to some, when done right, there’s nothing more exciting for fans than an MCU finale.

The supporting players in GOTG Vol. 3 fully understood the assignment. Sean Gunn remains this generation’s Clint Howard, while Academy Award nominee Maria Bakalova’s Cosmo is chef’s kiss. 

Chukwudi Iwuji is terrifying as the High Evolutionary. While the Guardians’ strength has never been its villains, it’s safe to say that this is the best in the series and instantly becomes one of my most hated. For that, kudos to Iwuji and his fearsome take.

While I would have liked more of Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock in the film, I can’t help but desire more appearances from him in future MCUs. I found it favorable that there was less Warlock so that the Guardians had their much deserved send-off.

Vin Diesel’s Groot continues to make three words, “I Am Groot,” incredibly impactful. Dave Bautista’s Drax, Karen Gillan’s Nebula, and Pom Klementieff continue to shine, and each is given its stand-out moment in the film. However, the chemistry between this ensemble remains its most compelling feature.

In one of his best performances as Peter Quill, Chris Pratt blends comedy and emotion to give an impactful performance, while Zoë Saldaña can do no wrong as Gamora. She slays the character she’s turned into Marvel’s most beloved since 2014.

Speaking of beloved, the heart and soul of this final entry lays at the feet of Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon. The emotional journey from Rocket’s birth to his current state is heartbreaking. However, his relationships with Teefs the Walrus, Floor the Rabbit, and Lylla the Otter elevate Rocket’s journey and show why his familial bond with the Guardians is essential. A performance like this elevates Rocket Raccoon into the upper echelon of MCU characters.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a film that will stick with me for a while. Its epic performances, scope, and soundtrack cement this gem as one of the MCU’s best. When I think of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the MCU, I think of Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part III, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”