Marvel Studios unveiled “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” tonight, the film having its world premiere in Los Angeles and press screenings taking place simultaneously.
There’s no embargo on social media reaction, which has started to go online. Generally, social media reaction from such world premieres tends to be considerably more gushingly positive than critic’s reviews – that’s pretty standard.
However, writer-director James Gunn’s final Marvel Studios film seems to be drawing a more varied response than expected. The good news is negative reviews seem next-to-zero, and there’s a significant share who love it, but there’s also a bigger than anticipated share who have issues with it too.
Here’s a sampling of review quotes:
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 James Gunn’s The Planet of Dr. Moreau, is the weirdest movie teenage boys will sob to.” – Katie Walsh, The Wrap
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is too long, & the climax is overdone, but it’s a visually spectacular, superbly acted & shockingly somber finale. It ends very well & plays like a knowing funeral for the notion of MCU movies as a dominant pop culture force. It reminded me of the fourth ‘Rambo’.” – Scott Mendelson, Forbes
“#GuardiansOfTheGalaxy3 is the best Marvel movie since Endgame. It’s refreshing in that outside of the movies the Guardians themselves have been in, it stands alone from any of the Phases and is it’s own thing. Definitely not a definitive end- more like a pause.” – Joblo.com
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the most visually interesting Marvel movie in a very long time. A bit intense for kids, tho, so keep that in mind if bringing the family. Kinda shocked by the reference to Adrian Belew in a zillion dollar movie!” – Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 aspires for sweeping emotion, gut-busting laughs & thrilling action. It sometimes succeeds, but as a send-off for all of these characters, it feels strangely uneven & anticlimactic. Features the best makeup & visual effects of the trilogy. Everything involving Rocket is fantastic! Definitely the star of the movie and where the emotion was most earned. I’m glad James Gunn got to close out this trilogy on his terms. It may not have met my exceedingly high expectations but maybe it’ll pull a Groot and grow on m.” – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
“My reaction to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: thank God that James Gunn is back in the MCU. This is easily the best Marvel movie in years and had a real, heartfelt, and surprisingly wistful heart.” – David Crow, Den of Geek
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is full of heart and brought me to tears on multiple occasions. James Gunn making it Rocket’s story pays off big. It’s not what you’re necessarily expecting, but it really does land. A perfect ending, too. ” – Joey Magidson, AwardsWatch
“The best thing I can say about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is that it appears James Gunn set out to bleed as much Disney money as possible on his way out in revenge for the initial firing.” – Erik Childress, Chicago Film Critics Assc.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a cosmic success – the perfect ending to what will easily go down as Marvel’s best trilogy to date. Gunn was not kidding about the heartbreak our heroes had in store! His idiosyncratic action, humor & music cues are what elevate this swan song.” – Dempsey Pilot, The DisInsider
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn bets the house on a, surprisingly, emotional story centered on Rocket and the love and friendship between these characters. Bets and wins. It’s pretty incredible (animal lovers, there are a couple tough scenes). Guardians movies still feel fresh because they are sci-fi, action as opposed to superhero. Guardians 3 is disconnected from the rest of the MCU in a positive way. The theme of this movie is ‘these characters truly care about each other and you care about them.'” – Mike Ryan, Uproxx
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is as fitting an end as we can expect of the MCU’s golden child – clunky and messy and rushed but still carries that signature mix of cheeky grotesquerie and maudlin sentiment. I think I dug it, in all its too-much-ness, but I also can’t ignore it.” – Clint Worthington, Consequence Media
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the Star Trek Beyond of the series, in the best and not-so-best ways. But Gunn is really good at this whole disarmingly earnest superhero thing, and even more so when he unleashes his old Troma instincts. Wish it felt less like a side quest tho” – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
“I don’t think any reaction around Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 really captures the weirdness of the film. Tonally, emotionally, visually, and politically all over the place and overwrought. I don’t want to go so far as to proclaim it interesting, but it’s something. I guess. This movie is fighting against itself so much. I want to put it out of my mind, but many of the scenes make very little sense together.” – Robert Daniels, The Los Angeles Times
“Guardians of the Galaxy 3’s very pretty, too jokey, and hinges on you still being wrapped up in the emotional fervour of Endgame, which I don’t think a lot of people are.” – Charles Pulliam, The Verge
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, Will Poulter and Chukwudi Iwuji star whilst Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel lend their voices to this final adventure involving the current Guardians after nearly a decade together.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” opens in cinemas around the world next Friday.
