The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a Television film on Disney+ Hotstar, written and directed by James Gunn. The 40-minute special stars Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Vin Diesel as Groot’s voice and Bradley Cooper as Rocket’s voice. We will also get to see the legendary Kevin Bacon making a special appearance in MCU’s first-ever Christmas special film.
The cinematography is done by Henry Braham, and the editing work is done by Greg D’Auria. The holiday special is produced by Marvel Studios. The synopsis reads, “On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present.”
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Review Contains No Spoilers
In The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, James Gunn takes us back to the days when young Peter Quill was excited about Christmas. However, Yondu doesn’t like the idea of the festival and people giving gifts to each other. So it is established that Christmas is forever ruined for our Star-Lord.
The story then shifts to the present time – Peter and others are getting back to being “normal” in Knowhere. He’s not the jolly person we saw in the previous GoTG movies. As seen in the trailer, Mantis says he’s already sad because Gamora is gone. So Mantis and Drax come up with a plan to bring Christmastime back into Peter’s life. As seen in the trailer, the present they want to give to their friend is no one else but the legendary Kevin Bacon! It is known that Peter is a huge fan of Kevin. So is there any other gift better than this? Well, we will find out!
The 40-minute holiday special film has all the elements that make for a comforting and chill watch at home. It already features some coolest and funniest characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The vibe of the show is casual and enjoyable till the end. While there’s a sense of despair in the air (because of Avengers: Endgame events), Pom and Dave, as Mantis and Drax, make sure there is never a dull moment. Oh, it’s a wonderful riot when they treat us with the fantastic Kevin Bacon!
Along with some heartwarming moments, Christmas-related movies become noteworthy also because of their music. Director James Gunn has also feasted us with some iconic Christmas melodies. However, the song ‘I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)’ by Old 97’s struck a chord with me. It’s not your typical festive track. There’s another sweet melody that will leave you awestruck in the end.
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It can be rightly said that with GoTG Holiday Special, James Gunn and Kevin Bacon brought back the Christmastime joy in our lives that has been missing for the past 2 years. Even though it is directed at Peter Quill, the film is for us – the viewers and the fans, to have a good time and enjoy every moment like we used to. Kevin is truly a sport and will make you laugh.
From the GotG cast, the true stars of Gunn’s special are Pom Klementieff and Dave Bautista. They leave you in splits with their camaraderie throughout. I am happy that James kept both actors at the forefront. I will rewatch the special on Disney+ only for them. Chris Pratt is good as Peter Quill, although a bit lost considering what the character is going through. Quill has lost his fun side, and it’s really sad to see him that way.
Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Movie Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Marvel is here to make your holidays cheerful and marvellous with its splendid and fun Christmas special. While Kevin and the star cast entertain us, there are several easter eggs from other MCU films and some also beyond the cinematic universe. The film has made me more enthusiastic to see what the team has planned for us with Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3!
The holiday special will release on Disney+ Hotstar on November 25, 2022.
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