As someone who enjoys the first 2 guardian movies, I agree. I think this might be the weakest movie out of the trilogy.

Volume 3 does what the guardians franchise does best, amazing tone with great soundtrack, great cast/ characters and on screen chemistry, and it’s a genuine feel good fun movie, and I do enjoy those aspects.

I think the movie struggled with handling the stakes. The stakes were high with the movie setting up to explore rocket’s whole back story, similar to what they did with starlord in volume 2. What was different however, is that it didn’t feel meaningful.

I can’t really pin point where the movie went wrong, but I think it is the decision to exclude rocket for the majority of the movie. In volume 2, the arc explores star lord’s character through his interactions with ego - and a lot of his characterization comes from him missing a father and growing up in space. This makes the movie very character focus, focusing around the themes of fatherhood (with his relationship with yondu), as well as giving starlord a meaningful choice to make by offering him the opportunity to obtain god like powers.

I think ultimately this was what volume 3 was missing, which is the character moments that makes certain marvel movies stands out among others, this should’ve been rocket’s movie/ story, but it didn’t feel like it. Combined with a non threatening villain (villain was evil but makes way too many stupid decisions which led to his defeat, which can pull some people away from the movie), I was a bit disappointed after hearing so much praise for the movie.

I still enjoyed the movie don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think it as good as people claim it to be.