Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

At 150 minutes, Vol. 3 outruns its welcome despite James Gunn really packing it on.

What elevates Vol 3 is the way it keeps that personality, nodding to the irreverent swagger that is a crucial component of the Guardians USP while delivering a series of devastating emotional sucker punches along the way. Classic rock needle drops and showy, snaking, single-shot action sequences – both GOTG trademarks – abound in a picture that balances a slightly overstuffed storyline with mischief, humour and the biggest of hearts.

Although it's more of a mixed tape than an overwhelming success, it's still Marvel's best film since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in the post-Infinity War epoch. Vol. 3 offers something that has become curiously expunged from most of their recent releases – emotion.

With this third chapter, Gunn cements the many achievements of the Guardians movies. That this trilogy is one of the MCU's most distinct and consistently delightful. That the triumph of Vol 3 arrives as Marvel movies continues to experience severe creative burnout.

It's still spectacular, spirited and often funny. Well, Gunn always brought energy and fun to his Guardians, and it'll be sad to see them go.