Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – Rated PG-13
***

The third, and possibly final Guardians of the Galaxy film is an entertaining and exciting film about friends willing to risk their lives to save one of their own. The film, which cost $250 million, is once again written and directed by James Gunn, who has left Marvel and is now running DC Comics.
Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper is the key figure in this film. We hear a lot about his origin story. As a baby, Rocket is a test subject for the High Evolutionary, played by Chukwudi Iwuji, who sees himself as a god-like figure who aims to create a perfect species to live in a perfect society called Counter-Earth. Rocket displays intelligence and aptitude beyond the other animals that have been created and the High Evolutionary wants him back.
The Guardians have established their headquarters on a rebuilt Knowhere. However, they are attacked by Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter, a genetically-engineered super-being. During the attack, Rocket is seriously injured. He will soon die due to a kill switch that was embedded in him by the High Evolutionary. The Guardians decide that they have to travel to the Orgoscope, headquarters of the High Evolutionary’s company Orgocorp, in hopes of finding an override code to save Rocket.

With the assistance of the Ravagers, led by Stakar Ogord, played by Sylvester Stallone and Gamora (who was killed by Thanos but has returned as an alternate timeline version of the character who doesn’t remember her time with the Guardians), the Guardians infiltrate Orgosphere and retrieve Rocket’s file. They are attacked by Orgosphere’s guards, barely escaping. But they find that the file they obtained did not contain the override code which would save Rocket’s life.
Will the Guardians be able to get the override code in time to save Rocket’s life? Will the High Evolutionary get Rocket back?
I’ve enjoyed the Guardians films because of the camaraderie of the cast of characters, some of whom are newly added in this film: Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, and Maria Bakalova as Cosmo.
The film’s score is by John Murphy (The Suicide Squad). The Guardians films always have some good humor and popular music included, though I have to admit I wasn’t familiar with many of the songs used in the film (Radiohead, Beastie Boys, The Replacements, Florence + the Machine).
Themes in the film include courage and sacrifice. Content concerns include adult language and the usual violence in battle scenes you would expect in a Marvel film.
The film includes two (mid and end) credits scenes, so don’t leave the theater before the credits end.
My only complaint with the film was that it was a bit too long at two and a half hours, with too many, and too long battle scenes. Also, the inclusion of one “F-word” seemed completely unnecessary. Otherwise, this was an entertaining film that we enjoyed.