The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special comes to Disney+ on November 25, 2022.
Synopsis
On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present.
Review
Marvel Studios is riding high after the critical – and fan – acclaim of their first TV special, Werewolf by Night. So heading in to the holiday season it’s over to James Gunn and the Guardians of the Galaxy to fill us with festive cheer.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special evokes memories of classic holiday capers. Written and directed by Gunn during the production of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the special hones in on a smaller cast of characters to tell a heartwarming story about family. Whilst I wasn’t the biggest fan of Vol. 2, it’s undeniable that this cast were best placed to carry this kind of story.
The Holiday Special isn’t quite what you would expect. Yes it touches on plenty of the classic holiday special tropes, but this isn’t a retread of the Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978. Gunn keeps the core of the MCU and the Guardians franchise in play. Instead wrapping it up in a Christmas bow rather than tossing all continuity out of the window.
Front and centre are Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista) as they travel to Earth to find the perfect holiday gift for Peter (Chris Pratt). You only need watch the trailer to know that gift is Kevin Bacon who joins the MCU as himself. That story is beautifully bookend by an animated sequence that brings back Michael Rooker as Yondu. A classic tale of losing the holiday spirit sends Mantis and Drax to recapture the magic of Christmas, a holiday they know nothing about.
Clocking in at 42 minutes, the special is brisk and wastes no time in getting down to business. It’s out and out Christmas from the very beginning and even arrives with two original musical numbers which will delight audiences. Using their alien base of ops are a platform for introducing Christmas is brilliant. It allows the cast to explore the meaning of Christmas in ways which feel uniquely MCU.
Of course no holiday special is without silliness. Here it comes from seeing Mantis and Drax exploring LA. There’s plenty of time spent on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, taking photos with tourists and culminates in what might be the MCU’s first visit to a gay bar. The laughs come thick and fast from the fish out of water trope before the introduction of Kevin Bacon brings us back to more typically MCU fare.
Without giving away any spoilers, the motivations for Mantis and Drax’s mission bring the level of heart we’ve come to expect from Gunn. It’s also sure to connect and reverberate through Vol. 3. That level of reverence for the material is why Marvel Studios latest experiment is proving to be a huge success.
Verdict
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a perfect slice of festive cheer from the MCU. It’s the perfect showcase for Mantis as Pom Klementieff steals the show alongside the debut of Kevin Bacon. With laughs, heart and just enough action, you’ll definitely want to add this to your winter watch list.
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