“I hate stories where everyone lives”
It’s not really a hot take to claim that phase four of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) is of rather questionable quality. Since the beginning of the phase, there has been a lot of unfavorable criticism from the community, and for good reason. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, however, stands out as one of Marvel’s best recent releases.
Overview
For the first time ever, the guardians celebrate Christmas and look for a present for their leader Peter Quill (Chris Pratt).
Unexpected
Going into this with little to no knowledge about the plot made the experience for me. I figured there would be Christmas songs and all the guardians just hanging out. However, this ended up being more than that. It was cleverly written and unexpectedly funny.
I believed Marvel had lost their sense of humor after a handful of their recent projects. They were on fire during the third phase of the series, but ever since then, the jokes haven’t quite hit the mark.
Beating the Grey Allegations
One of the main complaints of the MCU is that the films have terribly boring settings that are colorless. The prime example is the climax of Captain America: Civil War, which took place in a grey airport. It just wasn’t a visually impressive scene for a series that should be filled with color most of the time.
Ehhhh…
The animated portions are likely the worst part of the special, which is surprising. There are a few instances of animation, but they don’t exactly seem right. Although the storyline gives us a lot of pleasant insight into Peter, the visual quality falls short.
Conclusion
This without a doubt is one of the best products Marvel has produced in the past few years. It’s a heartwarming adventure with an unlikely duo that’s sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.
It seemed strange to be laughing so much at a Marvel project. It felt like recently they’ve dropped the ball in the comedy aspect but not for our favorite galaxy-protecting heroes.
Possibly the best thing about this special is that it’s a palate cleanser for superhero content. There’s no villain present and it’s not a bad thing. I think they should do this more you don’t always need some big bad, especially when so many comic book villains in movies just aren’t that memorable.
This makes for two great specials this year Werewolf by Night & The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. I’m hoping that there will be more to come.
Verdict 8 out of 10 Stars
Now available on Disney Plus!
Film Addict 