The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special arrived on Disney+ with great fanfare and reviews to match. For decades the phrase “Holiday Special” has sent chills down the spines of Star Wars fans, and many MCU fans were quietly fearful that the same thing could happen this time around. However, James Gunn is too well-connected with his characters and the franchise to make the mistakes of the Star Wars Holiday Special. Out of the many glowing Rotten Tomatoes reviews of the Guardians Holiday Special, the one thing many say is that the Special Presentation’s strength is that it delivers a feel-good Christmas treat.
When looking back on the Star Wars Holiday Special, the biggest issue the 2 hour “extravaganza” seemed to have was its length. Rather than pulling in its focus to the story of Chewbacca getting home to celebrate “Life Day.” The special filled out its lengthy runtime with unconnected segments of music, comedy and animation, which didn’t really sit well together and led to the reputation of the special.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special has managed to not only avoid the same fate, but has actually elevated the “holiday special” to a new level thanks to its tightly blended mix of story, music, comedy and a big chunk of Christmas spirit. This is something that has not gone unnoticed by many of those raving about the special.
One reviewer said: “From start to end I had a big smile on my face! It was the perfect length, it's an instant Christmas classic, and just a fun time!”
Another commented: “It's a goofy, funny, and heartwarming Christmas special that I didn't even know was coming out until the day it was released, but it surpassed my expectations by a lot.”
A third added: “Way to end phase 4 with a fun, heartwarming, little Christmas adventure.”
A fourth concurred: “Utterly charming Christmas special that makes great use of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters while mixing in the Christmas spirit.”
How Did The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Get It So Right?
Disney
The simple principle of telling a short story is what gives the Guardians Holiday Special its greatest asset. Like a one-shot comic book, Marvel’s Special Presentations could be the best projects to come from the MCU, requiring only a short level of attention and being able to provide a concise tale that can be enjoyed by even those with limited knowledge of the larger Marvel story.
While James Gunn could have really gone to town, layering up the additional content that brought down the Star Wars Holiday Special, his ability to make sure that every beat of the 44-minute runtime was filled with the spirit of the season and used to keep the story flowing towards its concluding revelation. This is the one thing that had continued to be praised in the many positive reviews of the special, and is the thing that will make sure the Guardians Holiday Special is replayed year after year, unlike its Star Wars counterpart.