Chris Pratt

Dave Bautista

Karen Gillan

Pom Klementieff

Vin Diesel

Bradley Cooper

Sean Gunn

Rhett Miller

Murry Hammond

Ken Bethea

Philip Peeples

Michael Rooker

Kevin Bacon

Luke Klein

Maria Bakalova

Kyra Sedgwick

Si Chen

Don McLeod

Thomas McNamara

Daniel Bernhardt

Michelle Gunn

Flula Borg

Matthew Withers

Rusty Schwimmer

Helene D'Auria

Tinashe Kajese

Barry Curtis

Rachel Luttrell

Giovannie Cruz

Stephen Blackehart

Sarah Alami

Terence Rosemore

Troy Beecham

Henry Braham

Rosemary Brandenburg

Beth Mickle

Alexei Dmitriew

Greg D'Auria

Kevin R. Wright

Louis D'Esposito

Victoria Alonso

Kevin Feige

Simon Hatt

Sara Smith

Lars P. Winther

James Gunn

David J. Grant

Brad Winderbaum

Dave Jordan

Stephane Ceretti

John Murphy

Judianna Makovsky

Bryan Searing

Gregg Featherman

Trygge Toven

Susan Pickett

Nik Korda

Amir R. Khan

Colin Follenweider

Randall Archer

Hank Amos

Heidi Moneymaker

Ellette Craddock

Sadiqua Bynum

David E. Scott

Sarah Halley Finn

Nadia Paine

Coya Elliott

Jared Leland Gore

Briana LaChelle Lantz

Basuki Juwono

Michael J. Wechsler

Niahlah Hope

Sam Avila

Bill McConnell Jr.

Gary Peebles

Thomas Watson

Brittany Hites

Haisu Wang

Ed Symon

Lisa Joelle Curtis

Clay Chamberlin

Molly Hunter Flick

Mary Shriner

Dermot Hickey

Bess Johnson

Tim Croshaw

Anele Onyekwere

Wayne Dalglish

Alan Hook

Alex McCarroll

Kat Rich

Ryan Meinerding

Silvia Mahapatra

Robert Woodruff

Zeke Morales

Brian Greenway

Nastasia Humphries

Reigh Casimir

Dominick Rolandelli

Ivan Moutinho

Anita Jackson

Ben Mendiola

Steve Slanec

Jessica Miglio

Kristen Jenkins

Kevin Vickery

Kosta Saric

Tyler Whitman

Liz Marston

Clementyne Vega

Lorin Flemming

Kelly Hemenway

Molly Scott

Marco Rubeo

Jennifer Bergman

Daniel Boccoli

Rick Ives

Max Junquera

Patrick Dunn-Baker

Nick S. Cross

Daniela Medeiros

Lee Orloff

Zachary Fannin

Caitlin MacGregor

Vincent Bates

Chris L. Ward

Madeline O'Hara

Comedy

Science Fiction

Adventure

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Marvel Studios

Kevin Feige Productions

Troll Court Entertainment

United States of America

The Movie Mob

**The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is all out ridiculous kid humor and not critical to the overall MCU story, but it’s a fun way to spend 45 minutes.**

Marvel’s second Disney+ special is another success! This Guardians of the Galaxy special is much more kid-focused than Werewolf by Night, with the humor dipping into extreme goofball. Still, it is nice to laugh with some of the goofier characters of the Marvel Universe. The idea to bring Kevin Bacon into the MCU as himself was comedy genius, and the whole special ends with a sweet, sincere family feeling. I wouldn’t say this Holiday Special was as impressive as Werewolf by Night, but it was fun, and the quality and effects felt on par with the movies. Again, I wouldn’t say it is a must-see, but if you love Marvel movies and a good laugh, you will enjoy giving this 45 minutes of your time.

Nathan

_The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special_ does what it needs to in order to be an effective Christmas tale. It is funny, heartwarming, and filled with fantastic original Christmas songs. It is nothing overly special but does what it needs to.

The writing for this special was pretty lackluster, there were more than a handful of lines that felt very awkward. I would question the acting, but we've seen and fell in love with these characters on the screen before, so the writing seems to be the culprit. Many of the Kevin Bacon and Kraglin's lines were cheesy and inorganic. I am not sure if that was the intent, but it just did not work for me.

The comedy is fantastic and hand me audibly laughing at many scenes. It was great to see the gang back together again and has me that much more excited for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3.

Overall, this was a decent entry into the MCU. Short, fun, and lighthearted. It does not attempt to be more than that.

**Score:** _55%_ | 
**Verdict:** _Average_

Manuel São Bento

MORE SPOILER-FREE MINI-REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/mini-reviews-2022-edition

"The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is irrefutable proof that James Gunn just can't fail. A Christmas special surrounded by the seasonal, familiar spirit, packing a huge heart and full of the filmmaker's typical, efficient humor. The main cast shares incredibly authentic chemistry, with Pom Klementieff standing out this time with a hilariously sweet, emotional performance.

Final remark for the musical numbers with amusing lyrics and Kevin Bacon perfectly playing... Kevin Bacon. I hope Marvel continues to make these TV specials."

Rating: A-

Guardians of the Galaxy has solidified itself as an incredible franchise within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Volume 1: The creation of these characters injected suspense, excitement, and a generous dose of over-the-top comedy into the MCU. Chris Pratt's portrayal of Star-Lord was a fantastic choice, and the characters like Rocket and Groot became instant fan favorites, with merchandise flying off the shelves. While Nebula's transformation from antihero to hero was well-received, Gamora felt underutilized. Drax provided comic relief, but off-screen controversies involving the actor can affect viewers' perception of the character. Overall, the movie is enjoyable and worth watching.

Volume 2: While some may prefer the first installment, Volume 2 offers a deeper dive into the characters and more excitement. The film is wonderfully executed, providing a fantastic adventure that is highly recommended for its magical space journey and character development.

Volume 3: This installment returns to the original concept of Marvel, seamlessly connecting with other films in the MCU. The movie offers fantastic character development, ensuring each character shines without overshadowing the others. Star-Lord and Gamora remain central, but the film also explores Rocket's origin story exceptionally well. The ensemble cast, including Mantis, Nebula, Groot, and Drax, deliver standout performances. New additions like Cosmo and Blurp add charm, while Adam Warlock's portrayal, though slightly disappointing, is explained within the storyline. The film is emotional, with impactful end credit scenes, making it a must-watch in theaters.

Holiday Special: The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is an exciting and enjoyable addition to the franchise, offering a fun and engaging viewing experience. The special presentation is a delightful continuation of the characters' stories, making them more relatable and adding an extra layer of excitement to the Marvel universe. This special is a testament to the franchise's creativity and is a welcome addition to the MCU continuity.