It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas now that Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is here. Written and directed by James Gunn this new 45-minute ‘Special Presentation’ (an exciting new way forward for Marvel on Disney + following October’s Werewolf By Night Special that could help counteract the sense of “So what?” engendered by some of their TV output this year) is guaranteed to melt the hardest of hearts. Even The Grinch and ol’ Ebeneezer Scrooge would find it difficult to resist the sheer, shameless unadulterated Christmasness of this silly, charming and even rather emotional return visit to the world of the MCU’s most unlikely superstars.
By its very nature, of course, the Holiday Special (released to coincide with Thanksgiving in the US but very determinedly festive in every regard) is utterly disposal, throwaway and, some might say, entirely inessential confection. There’s no villain or bad guy for our motley space crew to defeat, no space battles or over-elaborate FX scenes (although the production values are, of course, dazzling); this is all about seeing the Guardians, specifically Drax and Mantis, letting their hair down (well, maybe not Drax…) and having some knockabout fun. The Guardians are busily supervising the refurbishment of Knowhere in the wake of the Collector’s hurried exit. Starlord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still in a funk, mourning the loss of his beloved Gamora. Aware that it’s nearly Christmas back on Earth and hearing from Kraglin (Sean Gunn) that Yondu (Michael Rooker in voice only in an affecting animated sequence) ruined Peter’s childhood Christmas, Drax (Dave Batista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) set off to Earth to find the best possible present for their dejected leader; his childhood hero – Kevin Bacon. Cue much fish-out-of-water humour as Drax and Mantis arrive in modern-day Los Angeles, pose for selfies with the public and learn the pleasures of dancing and alcohol before finding their way to Kevin Bacon’s luxurious, private, Christmas-trimmings-bedecked home and set about procuring him so they can take him back to Peter as the best Christmas present of his life. Peter is understandably aghast when he discovers what the pair have done but Bacon decides to stay and help the Guardians celebrate Christmas before being returned home.
The plot is thinner than a paper hat from a Christmas cracker but that really doesn’t matter. Once again, James Gunn shows how to do proper comedy in an MCU title without bending the characters out of shape (take note, Taika Waititi) and the Holiday Special is frequently laugh-out-loud funny, thanks to the perfect pairing of Drax and Mantis – Drax’s simple naivety and Mantis’ bluntness as they thunder around LA causing chaos with little awareness or even interest in the consequences of their carnage. Batista is as wryly deadpan as ever as Drax but Pom Klementieff is clearly relishing the chance to properly show what Mantis can do, whether it’s using her powers of mind control or by generally and beautifully adopting the role of the innocent abroad who knows what she wants and can’t understand why she just can’t get it and take it.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (there’s more than just a title nod to the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special thanks to a subtle cameo by Mark Hamill) has got everything you might reasonably expect from a no-holds-barred Christmas special – music, dancing, Christmas lights, baffling presents and even a touch of faux snow falling on Knowhere to gladden the heart. It’s as schmaltzy as Hell too but just this once that’s really not necessarily a bad thing. If this doesn’t put you in the mood for Christmas then nothing will. Now, where did we put those mince pies..?
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is now streaming on Disney+
