Not to be confused or considered in any way with the infamously terrible Star Wars Holiday Special, or the not so bad yet also very different Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special serves as a love letter to Christmas specials of yesteryear. James Gunn’s characterisation consistency with the MCU’s intergalactic heroes remains true to the motion pictures that preceded this, a forty-five-minute slice of fun and throwaway goofiness that could only take place at Christmas time.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special takes Drax and Mantis onto Earth, as they believe giving Kevin Bacon (playing himself, and rather hilariously so) as a gift to Peter. The hope is it will reignite his belief in Christmas following Yondu ruining Christmas each year for Peter as a youngster, as well as his recent loss of Gamora in the events of Avengers: Infinity War.
Serving as a bridge across Guardians Vol. 2, Infinity War, Endgame and into Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Holiday Special revisits the breadth of emotions that despite the intergalactic setting, resonate with its audience at this time of year. After all, Christmas can be a sad and reflective time for many as much as it is a time of gathering and giving.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is bookended by charming sketchbook-styled animated sequences that catalogue Peter and Yondu’s past Christmas moments, and often-gratuitous musical numbers, thanks to the appearance of the Texan rock band Old 97’s as aliens performing in the Knowhere town square. Dave Bautista is once again hilarious in his line delivery, as is Chris Pratt in his switching between melancholy, panic but ultimately, elation.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a goofy, silly yet ultimately so much fun distraction from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The only real downside is this and its follow up would be James Gunn’s final work for Disney/Marvel. Marvel’s loss could well become DC Comics’ gain, but at least we’ll always have moments like this one.