• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) in Marvel Studio's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3". The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may not be suitable for children. (OSV News photo/courtesy Disney)

Movie Review: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

May 4, 2023
By John Mulderig
OSV News
Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

NEW YORK (OSV News) – Chris Pratt reprises his starring role as Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (Disney), and writer-director James Gunn returns to helm the project. But there’s a somber tone to long patches of this wrap-up of Gunn’s trilogy, which also lacks the verve that characterized its predecessors.

As leader of the titular team of miscellaneous superheroes, Peter is naturally alarmed when a previously unknown enemy endowed with mighty fighting prowess suddenly invades the ensemble’s headquarters, Knowhere. But anxiety turns to anguish when a confrontation with the new foe leaves his racoon comrade Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper) gravely wounded.

Pom Klementieff, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista and Karen Gillan in a scene from Marvel Studio’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” (OSV News photo/courtesy Disney)

To save Rocket’s life, Peter and his fellow warriors – likable brawny dope Drax (Dave Bautista), shifty trickster-turned-straight arrow Nebula (Karen Gillan), tentacled Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and anthropomorphized tree Groot (voice of Vin Diesel) – embark on a quest. They’re out to retrieve the computer code that will override Rocket’s programmed resistance to medicine.

Along the path of their journey, they receive off-and-on aid from Peter’s ex-girlfriend, Gamora (Zoe Saldaña). As fans of the interwoven “Avengers” franchise will know, Gamora was killed off, only to reappear as an alternate, younger version of herself. Not only does this mean she’s gone from Guardian to brigand, it also means she doesn’t remember Peter or their relationship.

As Peter grapples with this awkward complication in his once-flourishing romantic life, back at Knowhere, Rocket lies near death. While in a comatose state, he experiences a series of flashbacks to his youth.

These reveal that young Rocket was among the victims of a villain called The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) who used his hyper-intelligent prisoner as experimental fodder in a drive toward creating an ideal world populated by perfect beings. The torturous tinkering Rocket underwent included installing the technology that’s currently keeping him from healing.

Along with its implicitly pro-life warning about the dangers of interfering with nature, Gunn’s script satirizes the urge to resort to needless mayhem and highlights heroism and friendship. But the grim backstory to which much of the running time is devoted reinforces the movie’s inappropriateness for kids.

Grown-ups, by contrast, will appreciate that the combat, although at times intense, is kept bloodless. They may also feel that even the weakest installment of a series rich in charm and wit is worth patronizing. If nothing else, they’ll get one more chance to hum along with Redbone’s 1970s hit, “Come and Get Your Love” – and who doesn’t enjoy that?

The film contains much stylized but sometimes harsh violence, a torture theme, brief sexual humor, at least one mild oath, a single rough term and occasional crude and crass language. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘Freakier Friday’

Movie Review: ‘The Naked Gun’

Review: ‘Art Detectives,’ streaming, Acorn TV

Movie Review: ‘The Bad Guys 2’

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Movie Review: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’

Copyright © 2023 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Patrick Brice sentenced to home detention for attacks on elderly pro-life supporters

  • Statue of Confederate general known as anti-Catholic to be reinstalled in nation’s capital

  • Movie Review: ‘The Naked Gun’

  • Gun buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals

  • Nagasaki Franciscan monastery that survived atomic blast still stands as messenger of peace

| CURRENT EDITION |

CR digital edition

| Vatican News |

Catholic University of America Press to publish Pope Leo’s dissertation

Pope says he hopes Trump-Putin meeting leads to ceasefire in Ukraine

Hope is knowing God is always ready to forgive, pope says at audience

Pope prays world leaders recognize their responsibility for peace

Works of mercy are best way to invest what God gave you, pope says

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘Freakier Friday’

Movie Review: ‘The Naked Gun’

Review: ‘Art Detectives,’ streaming, Acorn TV

Movie Review: ‘The Bad Guys 2’

| En español |

Cardenal salvadoreño: ‘Queremos vivir la democracia’

León XIV: Pontífice de las fronteras y los puentes

‘No tengan miedo de hacer lo que El Señor quiere para nosotros’

Dios quiere ayudar a las personas a descubrir su valor y dignidad, dice el Papa

El ‘Padre Migrante’ nos relata su vida sirviendo a comunidades inmigrantes

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Texas woman sues ex-partner, abortion pill provider, alleging she was given drugs without consent
  • Canadian court OKs priest’s abuse suit against prominent priest, religious order
  • Project PLASE hopes Beacon House Square shines a light in Southwest Baltimore 
  • Judge blocks religious exemption to birth control coverage; Little Sisters of the Poor to appeal
  • Catholic University of America Press to publish Pope Leo’s dissertation
  • Mary’s assumption: The long-held belief was declared dogma 75 years ago
  • Baltimore NBCC leader among People of Life awards winners
  • Pope says he hopes Trump-Putin meeting leads to ceasefire in Ukraine
  • Sisters of Life ‘are the very mirror of God,’ cardinal says as 3 take perpetual vows

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en