FILMS X JENI’S: Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume III.
This is the Marvel we know and love.
If Marvel were Pixar, this is the Toy Story 3. Not necessarily in plot or really anything concrete, but the feeling it gives you when you leave knowing something that brought you a lot of joy has ended but had the best conclusion possible.
There are quite a few things I really respected about this movie - first of which is the plot in general. As soon as Endgame happened, it seemed as though they’d set up for the plot of Guardians Vol. 3 to be a sort of rescue mission for multiverse Gamora. This is not at all what that was. The plot was unexpected and original, and I thought they did a fantastic job of showing how the loss of Gamora still affected Quill without taking the easy way out and making that the entire plot. The purpose and outcome of Gamora herself in the story was really respectable and interesting to watch unfold. Overall, their relationship felt real and unforced; if you really want to get deep with it, I think it can serve as an example of what it looks like to lose someone and try to have someone else fill their place.
Another thing I really respected? NOT A MULTIVERSE. IN. SIGHT. It was so refreshing to not deal with any alternate universes for a change. It kept everything grounded and the stakes seemed so much higher because the weight of reality was enough, and there were none of the “oh well they’re dead in this universe so we can just bring them back from another one” loopholes. Leaving alternate dimensions out of it also simply made it feel like it was part of the same universe as the other two films - both metaphorically and literally.
The way Warlock was introduced is also something I appreciated. Marvel has an issue right now with bringing in new characters and either giving them too much of the spotlight too soon or not developing them enough. I assume we’ll be seeing Warlock in the future and I thought he was implemented the perfect amount in this movie. We got to see what he could do, a little bit of where he came from, and he’d pop in every now and then to remind us of his existence. By the end, I feel like he had somewhat of an arc that could be built upon in the future. I’d relate him to the Wanda or Pietro Maximoff track.
Speaking of character arcs, can we talk about all of the character development in this one? Almost all of our core characters experienced growth over the course of this film. I already somewhat alluded to the Quill and Gamora aspect, but Drax had a great little transformation (honestly shoutout to Dave Bautista this whole movie) and I feel like we constantly see Mantis figuring out what it’s like to exist. Even Kraglin had some tender moments.
Which segues me into the character development of all character developments: Rocket. Raccoon. I don’t know if he is just a universally beloved character or if it’s just me that wants to be best friends with him, but they really made him the star of this show. He is the Alvin of the chipmunks in this one. It might as well have been called Rocket (and the Guardians of the Galaxy). Which all served as such smart writing for the ending because it made the outcome feel like our whole story led up to it. All this to say that I may be biased because I would have watched a Rocket solo movie any day, but I was living for every second of content on my favorite racoon.
Heartstrings be warned: I wanted so badly to just hold Rocket in a way that I haven’t felt for another fictional character since I was 4 years old watching a Winnie the Pooh episode where Rabbit was being a complete ass to a homeless little bird.
One thing I will admit to being a little meh is that you probably need to watch the Christmas special so you’re not totally thrown off when they make a few comments about Mantis being Quill’s sister. Actually, I basically just told you everything you’d get from watching it so never mind. Also, there’s a telekinetic dog in an astronaut suit. You’re caught up.
Basically I kind of loved this movie (if you couldn’t already tell from how much I had to say on it). I’ve been waiting for Marvel to feel like Marvel again, and this brought me back to the kind of content we could rely on pre-Endgame. Was it earth shattering? Not necessarily. But not everything has to be, and I think it did an excellent job of knowing the purpose that Guardians has served within the MCU and delivering that same kind of quality. It honestly kind of makes me even more sad that it had me feeling all of these emotions because usually I could just say that at least we can always rely on Guardians, but we can’t because this was the end. *cue post marvel depression*
Spoiler alert: the trailer shot where it looks like Quill is dead being literally within the first five minutes? Absolutely inspired.
Would I watch it again? Yes, though I may have to emotionally prepare.
Tear level: Verge of tears the whole movie and then just let them flow at the end.
Watch when: you want both tenderness and laughter or you just need some Rocket Raccoon in your life.
Soundtrack/score: there were times I didn’t know I was even sad until the score told me I was and it HITS
Awesome Mix: they never fail and I may be most disappointed in the fact that we won’t get another.
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The Jeni’s Pairing
This one is making Films x Jeni’s history as our first ever quadruple scoop because Guardians deserves to go out with a bang. We’re harnessing the lofty ambitions and determination of each of our heroes when we ask for this in a waffle cone because we know it’ll always promise a good time. We’re starting strong with Bombastix Sundae Cone because it’s different, fun, bold and a little dose of nostalgia. Next, we’re scooping Brown Butter Almond Brittle because you can always rely on it to deliver. We’re adding in Blackout Chocolate Cake because this had depth and was giving the absolute most. Finally, we’re topping off with High Five Candy Bar because they deserve exactly that - a high five for sticking the landing. Just like the Guardians, it’s both salty and sweet. In the end, we’re left with something messy, amazing, and worthy of the journey.
MORE ON THE FLAVORS:
Improving upon something so simple and perfect, like an old-fashioned vanilla cone coated in crisp chocolate, ain’t easy. It took a blend of two vanillas to get that top-note vanilla chord just right. The one that strikes your nostalgia bone in all the good ways. Lots of crunchy chocolate-coated waffle cone pieces and gooey fudge complete the time traveling trip. Buckle up before diving into this one.
Years ago, Jeni was talking with a Norwegian friend who nearly teared up with joy as she shared her love of krokan—toffee-like candy made with butter, almonds, and caramelized sugar. …Made with rich buttercream ice cream and golden pockets of handmade almond brittle, this sweet, salty, crunchy ice cream quickly became a menu mainstay.
Blackout Chocolate Cake is a four-part chocolate explosion by the spoonful. Mouth-filling, chocolate ice cream packed with the best Fair Trade cocoa in the world. Crumbly chocolate cake pieces. A river of gooey bittersweet fudge. And semi-sweet chocolate chips for a little crunch. No other ice cream out there showcases the many facets of complex chocolate quite like this one.
Four ingredients to rule them all: Peanut butter, caramel, chocolate, pretzels. Plus one not-so-secret ingredient — honey — which gives our peanut butter ice cream a dreamy, nougat-y texture and flavor. Think of eating this flavor like digging for buried treasure. There's something fun to be found in every single bite!
