The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Review: Of The Marvel Studios Christmas Episode
Cast: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Maria Bakalova, Michael Rooker, Kevin Bacon
Director: James Gunn
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
As we will see in our The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special review, these 40 minutes are perfectly in continuity (so much so that we consider this title the true conclusion of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe) both with the narrative macro-universe and with the previous chapters of the heroes galaxy’s unlikeliest, they make a nice holiday gift for fans. Composed of good feelings, the usual Guardians humor, a perfect soundtrack full of pop-rock songs (all related to the Christmas theme) and the inevitable emotional moment, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a compressed compendium of what was James Gunn’s work with Marvel. Even if, at the end of the vision, a bittersweet sensation remains.
Only they were missing from the appeal, seen briefly in the cinema in Thor: Love and Thunder, but without a dedicated product since 2017. While awaiting the conclusion of the James Gunn trilogy, the director – launched into the mainstream world thanks to the won bet of the first chapter film in 2014 and now at the head of the DC Studios division – gives fans, on the Disney+ platform, a special episode dedicated to the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Review: The Story Plot
On Anywhere, the Guardians of the Galaxy are facing a relative lull as they seek to restore order. In particular, Peter Quill, still shocked by the events that took place in Guardians of the Galaxy vol.2 and Avengers: Endgame, where he had to say goodbye to his beloved Gamora, seems to be a bit detached from the rest of the group. Earth’s Christmas season is approaching and Mantis, along with Drax, believe they can cheer Peter up by bringing back some Christmas spirit. They have known Quill’s difficult relationship with Christmas for some time: it seems that Yondu, his adoptive father, did not particularly like that holiday, forcing his crew to avoid good feelings and the exchange of gifts and making Peter much more insensitive to this time of year.
Remembering Peter’s nice words about the “great hero” Kevin Bacon, who saved a city thanks to dance, Drax and Mantis set off for Earth in the hopes of being able to deliver the real Kevin Bacon as a Christmas present. The short adventure will allow everyone to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Review and Analysis
There is no doubt that Guardians fans will find all the style that characterized the two previous feature films, the one straddling seriousness and more light-hearted fun, seasoned with small doses of absurdity (just see the opening credits scene or the idea at the head of the episode, that is to kidnap the real Kevin Bacon, creating a short circuit between reality and fiction to applause). It’s James Gunn’s trademark here that he sacrifices some adult comedy to fully dive into the typical Christmas story for the whole family.
The result is an episode that is certainly entertaining, but which – despite all the expected elements being in the right place – is rarely surprising. Not even with the presence of some animated sequences, which recall the old eighties cartoon animation, not even with the possibilities given by the presence of Kevin Bacon in the role of himself. This episode is more Christmassy than truly special, making it a nice addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe on balance, without being very memorable. This is fine because in less than an hour it offers sincere and beautiful emotions, capable of warming the heart of even the coldest spectator, and slightly carries forward the narrative developments which, in all likelihood, will be taken up again in the announced and now in home straight Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Remains.
The cast of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is numerous, even if many characters – including some who correspond to the protagonists of the group of galactic heroes – appear for simple appearances. Nebula, Rocket, and Groot are left in the background and limited to saying a few lines at the right moment, while Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, despite being considered the protagonist of the story, once again the emotional heart of the narrative, paradoxically acquires a secondary role.
This is because the absolute protagonists of the story are Drax and Mantis, played by Dave Bautista and Pom Klementieff, perfectly at ease in the role of two outsiders with perfect comedic timing. The scenes set in Hollywood, in which they are mistaken for cosplayers, are among the funniest of the medium-length film. In general, however, the chemistry between the two works well and allows them to remain in the spotlight exclusively since the opposite often happens in films. And then there’s him, Kevin Bacon, a hero for Peter Quill, a mythological figure for the other protagonists and an actor who enjoys playing a version of himself. With the surprise “spoiled” by the trailer, during the viewing, the novelty effect that the character intends to bring is missing and, after the initial fun, it is sad to admit that the second half of the episode fails to enhance it properly.
Having reached the end credits (with an inevitable and nice and superfluous post-credit scene), we can understand the reason for the presence of this special episode within Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The phase is characterized by the main theme such as the elaboration of mourning and in which this long narrative stasis served the protagonists to come to terms with the consequences of the Infinity Saga to start over. In this case, it is Peter Quill who must find that spark to become truly alive again, an expedient that allows the group to be reunited and once again consecrate the value of friendship and adoptive family.
And, like most of the titles belonging to Phase 4, even The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, however, lacks that push forward, that sense of true wonder and surprise during the vision. A coherent episode, for better or for worse. Definitely a pleasant gift to find under the tree, which will leave fans happy and satisfied. But also an unwrapped gift, already knowing its contents perfectly.
For Black Panther: Wakanda Forever there was a small controversy in terms of credits, with the mention “Introducing” (the equivalent of our own “For the first time on the screen) for the actor Tenoch Huerta, actually already established by time. No complaints, however, for the same writing here, with a clear comic intent to underline the special condition of the participation of Kevin Bacon, a champion of self-irony (we recall his guest in Will & Grace) which lends itself joyfully to what is the culmination of a recurring gag that has graced the most human soul of the MCU since 2014. And with her presence, the curtain falls on Phase Four, fluctuating but ambitious and on several points moved by sincerity and empathy. The two major qualities of Gunn’s oeuvre, and why, after the elegiac adventure of the people of Wakanda, it was only right to have some fun with an unlikely but irresistible band of Christmas friends.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Review: The Last Words
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a special episode on Disney+ that recalls why James Gunn’s group of heroes works. The elements are all there, including comedy, insanity and a good dose of good feelings, but the surprise effect is missing. The result is a Special that will warm the hearts of fans and which is consistent with Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but which closes in on itself without bringing big news. James Gunn returns to the Marvel house with the penultimate piece of the Guardians of the Galaxy adventures, a joyful and at the same time melancholy Christmas comedy that closes Phase Four in the right spirit.
