Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3  ★★★½

WHAT a great character Rocket the raccoon from the Guardians of the Galaxy film series is.

He’s a tough, snappy, smart-arse little fella who is also loyal to the fault.

The first two films hinted at a dark story behind his strange, hybrid appearance and now, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, we learn of the forced animal experimentation that made Rocket who he is.

As a result, unlike the first two films, the third instalment isn’t suitable for the very young or even some adult animal lovers.

Since their last adventure the Guardians have settled into a relaxed life at their new headquarters on Knowhere.

But the peace is shattered by an attack from a strange, angry character named Adam, played by series newcomer Will Poulter.

Rocket is seriously wounded but in trying to save him the Guardians find a kill switch embedded in his body.

They travel to the headquarters of the company that made the switch to find the override code.

As Rocket lies unconscious, he recalls his past as a baby raccoon, one of several animals experimented on by the High Evolutionary in his bizarre attempts to create a new life-form on Counter-Earth.

This back-story and Rocket’s plight is made even more poignant and audience-investing by the performance of Chukwudi Iwuji as the vicious villain who develops a particular obsession with Rocket as the raccoon grows in intelligence and confidence.

Writer/ director James Gunn, who was infamously sacked from this instalment by Disney and later re-hired, has described Rocket as a reflection of his own self.

This affinity and love for all his characters helps Gunn transform volume 3 from just another Marvel superhero film to a real story of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice with genuine arcs for all the main protagonists.

It’s a fitting end to the trilogy and Guardians’ story in this current form.