Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) in Marvel Studio's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3". The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. (OSV News photo/courtesy Disney)

Chris Pratt reprises his role as the leader of the titular team of miscellaneous superheroes who, in this edition of their adventures, embark on a quest to retrieve the computer code needed to save the life of their gravely wounded raccoon comrade (voice of Bradley Cooper). As the hyper-intelligent critter lies near death, flashbacks reveal that, years before, he was among the victims of a villain (Chukwudi Iwuji) who used him as experimental fodder in a drive toward creating an ideal world populated by perfect beings. Pratt’s character, meanwhile, grapples with awkward complications in his once-flourishing romance with a former crewmate-turned-brigand (Zoe Saldaña).

Along with an implicitly pro-life warning about the dangers of interfering with nature, returning writer-director James Gunn’s script satirizes the urge to resort to needless mayhem and highlights heroism and friendship. But this wrap-up of his trilogy lacks the verve of the previous outings and the grim backstory to which much of the running time is devoted reinforces the film’s inappropriateness for kids.

Much stylized but sometimes harsh violence, a torture theme, brief sexual humor, at least one mild oath, a single rough term, occasional crude and crass language. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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