TV Review | The Guardians of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

“The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is an instant Christmas classic. It’s a hilarious and heartfelt tale. Pom Klementieff & Dave Bautista are a joy to watch, they’re a perfect pair!”

Last year, Marvel Studios gave us the Hawkeye series for Christmas. This year, we have a full Holiday Special with The Guardians of the Galaxy. I had the chance to watch it earlier this week. And I can tell you, you don’t want to miss it. It starts streaming this Friday on Disney Plus!

A SPECIAL PRESENTATION

Pom Klementieff as Mantis in *The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

After a first successful special presentation with Werewolf By Night, Marvel does it again with this Holiday Special. It’s a format that works. Indeed, they can tell very different types of stories. We had a Halloween/horror story and here we have a Christmas tale. And I do hope we will get many more in the years to come. I love hearing the fanfare of the special presentation. What about a Valentine’s Day special? This would be interesting!

We are at the end of November and you may think it’s a bit early for Christmas films. But it’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit, especially when we can celebrate with The Guardians of the Galaxy! I just think they are the right team for this type of story.

STORY

(L-R): Pom Klementieff as Mantis and Dave Bautista as Drax in *The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

Thor: Love and Thunder was the last time we saw the Guardians. Here, we find them in a different setting. We learn what they have been up to. Make sure to pay attention to the dialogue as it gives some really interesting information. In fact, it plants the seeds for its next film in May. We even meet a new character that is sure to become a fan favorite. Plus, there is a pretty big reveal. So, this special is quite important to the Guardians’ story. It is a beautiful Christmas gift.

Moreover, James Gunn truly understands these characters. Indeed, it is always a pleasure to watch them do silly things. And this special surely delivers in terms of silliness. Even though we see Quill, Nebula, Rocket, and Groot, this is really Mantis and Drax’s show. The two already had a great bond in the previous films. This special further delves into their dynamic. They are on the hunt for the perfect Christmas gift for Peter. And, this leads them to Earth. They bring a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. It’s absolutely hilarious!

In addition, the story is also heartfelt with beautiful emotional beats. It captures the magic of Christmas. You can watch it with your friends and the whole family. There is something for everyone to like. And for Star Wars fans, there is a little tribute to the infamous Holiday Special. Honestly, this is an instant Christmas classic. I think it will become a tradition to rewatch it every year. I already know that I will rewatch it on December 25.

On a side note, stay until the end of the credits for a nice little scene.

CAST

Kevin Bacon as himself in *The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

Furthermore, the cast of the Guardians of the Galaxy is amazing as usual. I love their dynamic, it just feels so natural. Plus, Pom Klementieff and Dave Bautista are a joy to watch. They are a perfect pair. What’s more, bringing Kevin Bacon into the MCU to play himself was a brilliant idea. After all, Peter Quill mentioned quite a few times he was his hero and that’s thanks to Footloose that the galaxy was saved once. And yes, this man is a legend.

VISUALS

(L-R): Karen Gillan as Nebula and Pom Klementieff as Mantis in *The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

Gunn has chosen the glorious 1:66:1 aspect ratio for this one. I always find this format more immersive because it takes up the whole screen. The more, the better, right? Having a full screen adds to the wonder of some scenes. On top of that, this Holiday Special is as colorful as the previous Guardians installments. And, they have kept the same level of commitment to the VFX as the films. It’s not because it’s a Christmas special that it doesn’t need to have great visuals. Speaking of that, it features a new ship design that I love. I hope to see it again in Volume 3!

SOUNDTRACK

Chris Pratt as Peter Quill ‘Star-Lord’ in *The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

When it comes to music, the Guardians of the Galaxy never disappoint. Once again, James Gunn has gathered a great mix of songs that fits in the jolly atmosphere of this special. And it includes an original song. With the presence of the Old 97’s, we had to hear them sing a funny Christmas song in alien costume, please.

VERDICT

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is an instant Christmas classic. It’s a hilarious and heartfelt tale. Pom Klementieff & Dave Bautista are a joy to watch, they’re a perfect pair! Special Presentations are a great format for Marvel Studios to tell different stories. I sure hope that we will get many more in the coming years.