I enjoyed this holiday special more than I thought I would. In the past previous holiday specials have not lived up to the hype we thought they would be getting. Personally, I felt like this one did. Holiday Specials are supposed to be fun and bring joy. I laughed a lot at this special, and afterwards I felt happy (that’s a synonym for joy.) This special also had a ton of Christmas spirit, which is exactly what you would hope for. That makes for a great special.
POSITIVES
I predicted from the original trailer that this special would focus on our “secondary” guardians, meaning we would not get a lot of the main guys (Quill, Nebula, Rocket.) Of course, I was right, but I think that made the special even better. Drax and Mantis got some much-needed screen time and it was hilarious. Between them posing as people in costume on Hollywood Blvd, to them getting absolutely hammered in the club, I was laughing harder than Drax does.
Also, Kevin Bacon was great in this. The scene of Drax and Mantis breaking into his home and kidnapping him was also very funny. Guess what I was doing when they broke in? I was laughing. The way they deliver him to Quill as a Christmas gift to boost his spirits was very heartwarming. They turned the entire base they were staying at into a mini-Christmas town. That’s Christmas spirit right there. That’s what makes Christmas special right there.
The gift exchange was pretty funny as well. Rocket getting Bucky’s arm from Nebula was an all-time call back. It looked like a healthier gift exchange than my family’s white elephant on Christmas eve. I almost forgot about the horrible Christmas song as well from the aliens learning about Christmas. How could you not laugh at that?
NEGATIVES
I thought the special could have been a little longer. 45 minutes went by very quick. Kevin Bacon was there to help explain Christmas to aliens who have no idea what it is. They could have shown him explaining it a little more instead of just cutting to the gift exchange and him singing Christmas songs. That was probably my biggest gripe with the entire special, but like I said it’s a special, it should be lighthearted and fun without too many issues.
FINAL RATING: 8.2
Glad to see our Guardians back together again. Glad they embraced the spirit of giving. Glad we got to see Yondu again. Am I glad Mantis is Quill’s half sister? I’m not sure, and I did not see it coming. Maybe it will play a role in future guardians’ films. I am also glad we got to see a lot of Drax, considering Dave Bautista is done playing him after the third guardians movie. All in all, I was pleased with the special, and I think more Christmas specials should be done if they are done like this.
Side Note: I don’t know how I feel about broilc Groot. Like why is he so built here? Man went from a twig to a full-blown California Redwood. Man is yoked!
