The Meaning of Groot's Last Words in Guardians of the Galaxy 3

iO9 pointed out that the "I love you guys" line was a meta-textual moment when the drama of "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3" spilled out of the screen. When the audience heard "I love you guys," it wasn't a revelation that Groot had expanded his vocabulary, but the moment the audience themselves had become so attached to Groot, they too could relate to it. The audience was now just as friendly to the sturdy tree man as the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

It's a nice theory that is confirmed in the "We are Groot" scene of the first film. We had learned to care and could understand other words from Vin Diesel's character. In the early Guardians, however, we weren't quite there. We understood some of what Groot said, but not all. Nine years and several movies later, Groot could speak in full sentences. We were all there.

It wasn't a mere reflection of iO9, however. A fan tagged writer/director James Gunn on Twitter, pointing out the theory. Gunn replied, affirming the theory. He said, quite succinctly, "Spoiler... Yeah that's exactly what it means."

One of the notable characteristics of the Guardians of the Galaxy films is their curiously uninhibited sentimentality. As the characters crack wise and commit violence, they also cling to each other, all outcasts happy to have found a new family. Despite the insults, there is warmth. The "I love you guys" moment is where the movie itself also embraces the audience, bringing viewers into the fold. Everything is very sweet.

Gunn's next movie will be a Superman movie called "Superman: Legacy". Gunn seems ready to be totally serious.