I rated this really badly when I first watched it, but I realised why. I intensely hate being forcefed festivity so that time of year is bad for me and This compounded that. When I decided to watch this with a friend recently though, it was my decision and it honestly changed my life. I know what Christmas is to me and I love it and I wish I could have it back. The season has been ruined for me by the commercial nature of it, but I know the true Christmas lies within my heart and that is all about love and caring. Unfortunately, I can't experience my own Christmas these days but maybe one day society will change and I will be able to have Christmas again. We'll have singing and dancing and we'll do nice things for each other and just enjoy being with our loved ones.
I have so many emotions, I can't say enough about this. I will keep this as precious to me. I will watch this whenever I want to feel that Christmas spirit. It probably won't be in October, November or December.
If “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” really is the end of Gunn’s run with Marvel, then this holiday special is a near-perfect, penultimate film from one of the superhero genre’s best.
And yet it all works, at least if (like me) you’re a bit of a sucker for the Guardians to begin with. It’s funny enough to provoke out-loud laughter and poignant enough to elicit that telltale sting behind the eyes, if not quite enough to draw full-on tears. Maybe it lacks the heft of a true Guardians feature or series, but it’s exactly the holiday confection you’d want from this motley crew: shiny, fluffy and just odd enough to feel personal.
Gunn’s special is a fantastic holiday present, a heartwarming reminder of how much we enjoy these characters, mixed with Gunn’s great ability to blend humor, touching moments, and friendship.
If you like your Christmas specials with laughter and delight but, ultimately, an understanding of the innate bittersweetness and melancholy that can live beneath the merriment, this is likely the special for you. And the possibilities of what Gunn seems like he’s going to aim for in his final ‘Guardians’ installment, something potentially very poignant, sad, and special.
It all ends happily, sappily ever after, as such things should. And if you wish it had upped the outrageous ante a tad, a pushed a few more Christmas-card envelopes, had a little more of the gonzo spirit that has made the Guardians of the Galaxy movies a breath of fresh franchise air, look on the bright side. No one says a single word in Wookie. Not once.
The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special
Purely fun and lightheartedly funny. This special centred around the wonders of Yuletide does what it sets out to do perfectly— a little taste and reminder of the Guardians, whilst getting us prepared for the third movie.
Pom Klementieff finally gets the spotlight, and she shines brightly; She's as funny as she's heartwarming. The chemistry between Mantis and Drax is chaotic, hilarious and beautiful to watch. Kevin Bacon also fits seamlessly with the duo.
It's also nice to see that Christmas hasn't been used as a prop, as former Marvel endeavours have done (Hawkeye and Iron Man 3).
8.5/10
(Mauro Lanari)
Corto televisivo come fan service & "universal acclaim" per non so quale merito: "suggestivo divertissement" una stupida pagliacciata con una colonna sonora persino più ripugnante.