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ReviewsVariety

Head to Head: Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

December 9, 2022
Head to Head: Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Disney+’s new special “The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special” brings the whole crew back together in a fun, exciting short film. Released on Nov. 25, “The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special” gave insight into what the fan-favorite space crew is doing for the holiday season. “With a runtime of only 44 minutes, it was an amazing watch seeing the Guardians back on the screen with funny and heartwarming moments that picked up right where they left off,” Journalism I student Angel Tejada wrote. Photo fair use of Disney.

Disney+ brings back the fan-favorite space crew in a fun, feel-good, and a unique story with a holiday twist.

“The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special” brings fans back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a new holiday twist to show what the Guardians are doing since the release of “The Guardians Of The Galaxy 2” in 2017.

Directed by James Gunn, “The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special” shows the team of superheroes in a festive mood that will dive deeper into Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) past and what Christmas means to him.

After the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” the team, particularly Quill, is in a state of disarray, with no discernable plan on where to take their journey next. To cheer up Quill, fellow Guardians of the Galaxy Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) head to Earth to search for a perfect Christmas gift.

Even with a runtime of only 44 minutes, it was an amazing watch seeing the Guardians back on the screen with funny and heartwarming moments that picked up where they left off.

Interactions between the characters are amazing too, as watchers see the growing relationship between the Guardians, Drax and Mantis, along with animated scenes of Quill and his adoptive father Yondu (Michael Rooker).

Interactions between the characters are amazing too, as watchers see the growing relationship between the Guardians, Drax and Mantis, along with animated scenes of Quill and his adoptive father Yondu.

Certain scenes of the movie are animated in a style similar to “Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse,” offering viewers a breath of fresh air through shifting media.

Gunn was able to use the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s extraterrestrial settings to stray away from typical Christmas clichés and give the movie its own twist.

Throughout the film, Gunn shows viewers what the Guardians have had to realize: that instead of reliving the past, you should be grateful for the people you have now and live in the moment. Without the Guardians, Quill would’ve never been able to move forward.

Overall, “The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special” is an incredible watch with beautiful scenes and interactions between the characters.

More from Angel Tejada

Marvel Studios’ new holiday special, “The Guardians of the Galaxy the Holiday Special,” is available on Disney+. The holiday special, which was released on Nov. 25, adapted perfectly to the aspect of the holiday spirit. “There are moments in the film that just make one feel good while others leave viewers disappointed in how the story feels thin and undeveloped,” Journalism I student Evan Cornish wrote. Video fair use of Disney

Disney’s Marvel Studios “The Guardians of the Galaxy The Holiday Special,” released on Nov. 25, follows Drax and Mantis as they scour the galaxy in search of a Christmas gift for Peter Quill.

“The Guardians of the Galaxy the Holiday Special,” released Nov. 25, presents viewers with a colorful and exciting adventure but leaves audiences unsatisfied.

With the holiday season approaching, Marvel Studios produces a mediocre film with a concise run time of 44 minutes. The opening moments focus on a harrowed Peter Quill mourning the loss of Gamora after the events of “Avengers: Infinity War.”

In an attempt to cheer Quill up, the movie follows Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they kidnap Quill’s hero Kevin Bacon as his Christmas present. This becomes a running joke that is amusing at first but quickly begins to flame out. Since both Drax and Mantis have difficulties interacting with humans, it’s often utilized for comic relief, but their one-liners get dry quickly and some even are cringy.

Despite a cheerful but jumbled plot, Drax and Mantis’s adventure is a joy in itself to watch, conveying that the holidays are not about the gift, but about the thought behind it.

Despite a cheerful but jumbled plot, Drax and Mantis’s adventure is a joy in itself to watch, conveying that the holidays are not about the gift, but about the thought behind it.

The film’s biggest problem is the lack of screen time for Pratt, who typically brings so much to the screen. While some of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films’ more underused characters, Drax and Mantis, are being developed, the film feels unbalanced due to the leading characters.

Furthermore, there are brief moments where the CGI looks sloppy. During the chase for Bacon, some of the movements that would be impossible for the average human look unrealistic.

Though “The Guardians of the Galaxy The Holiday Special” is a perfect short watch for someone who hasn’t seen previous works in the franchise, the film does not compare to other works in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie collection.

More from Evan Cornish

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Angel Tejada

Angel Tejada is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and a Journalism I Facilitator for the ODYSSEY Media Group. With this being his last year in the ODYSSEY, he wants to make the most of his final year and finish strong.

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