Guardiões da Galáxia: Volume 3

GOTG 3 is a blahbuster that, like other recent Marvel disappointments, jogs along from one visually extravagant, strenuously jokey set piece to another without offering much in the way of either dramatic engagement or actually funny ideas.

Uneven though it may be, "Vol. 3" continues to demonstrate that Gunn has a unique skill set.

Overall, "Vol. 3" does everything a final film should - if it really is a final film, that is.

A movie is only as good as its bad guy, and I dreaded having to spend time with him.

For all its backsliding into bleak-stop torturing Bradley Cooper's talking raccoon-this spirited summer kickoff delivers the requisite thrill ride and ends the GOTG trilogy with the sweet sorrow of saying goodbye to these space dorks. It's been a trip.

Not only is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 my favorite film of the series, but it's also quite possibly the best entry in the entire MCU.

It trashes the camaraderie of its core ensemble in favor of one deafening, vicious flourish after another.

Mercifully, Gunn gives us a Phase whatever Marvel movie that is self-contained - more GCU than MCU.

For "Guardian" junkies and kids of all stripes, this two-hour reunion with old character friends will have them singing Peaches & Herb's 1978 soul classic "Reunited" -- and it feels so good.

As a final chapter for this trilogy, Vol. 3 works. But of the three films, it's the weakest.

When the Guardians get into a big group hug at the end of the film, it's supposed to evoke love and solidarity. But it might better be characterized as the unity of capital, determined to offend no one and turn no one's dollars away.

A funny, big-hearted adventure.

Vol. 3 scales up with an excessive 150-minute runtime but commits that length to splashing Gunn's signature brand of gooey sentimentality across the biggest, loudest, most color-mad canvas that a Disney budget can afford.

The fact that Gunn himself, as writer and director, has an unusual degree of authority, and thereby seems to be largely constraining himself, renders the narrow results all the more oppressive.

James Gunn has an incredible way of balancing the mix of humor and heart... and has gotten bigger and better with that.

Be forewarned, it's a slog for the first 90 minutes of its 2h 30m length. Then real energy kicks in.

Completes Rocket' transformation from a footnote to one of Marvel' greatest characters.

Too often it feels like James Gunn made a playlist of songs he likes and then came up with scenes to go with them.

While better than most recent Marvel or DC films, it definitely lacks the fun, buddy-film aspects and sincere relationships of the original in lieu of an exhausting mission-based story.

Remarkably, given the studio brand: this is absolutely Gunn's movie. It's cheerfully gross, frequently hideous to behold, nakedly emotional, indulgent to the point of bloat in its desire to tie off every narrative thread...and, happily, its own thing.