The Christmas Chronicles Review: Netflix’s Christmas Caper Hits All the Right Notes
It’s not their first, but Netflix’s new Christmas film, The Christmas Chronicles feels a lot more like a major motion picture than some of the originals.
And that’s a GREAT thing.
Look, I’m well known in my own circles for being a “Scrooge” or a “Grinch” until after Thanksgiving. I’m adamant about no Christmas movies or music until Santa marches in the Macy’s parade.
So above all else, my fear was that The Christmas Chronicles wouldn’t work well to put me in the Christmas spirit like the tried and true classics.
One by one, The Christmas Chronicles melted my worries away into a Christmas-spirit-filled, blubbery mess.
For starters, the cast is phenomenal. Of course, there’s Kurt Russell, who (while not in the traditional jolly, portly caricature we’ve come to expect) masters the role of Santa Claus with ease. He’s a pleasure to watch in nearly every scene.
The supporting cast is just as strong. Oliver Hudson and Kimberly Williams-Paisley make excellent parents and a believable couple, framing the story with just the right amount of emotion.
The biggest strength of the entire film, though, is the strength of its two young leads: Judah Lewis as Teddy, and Darby Camp as Kate. They’re believable siblings and are clearly able to handle both the high-concept and the grounded material they are given.
Really, that’s The Christmas Chronicles’ sweet spot: the delicate balance between the fantastic world of Santa Claus and the grounded, bitter reality the rest of us live in.
Elves, flying reindeer, and magic fill the world of Santa, while Teddy and Kate’s world is filled with crime, loss, and resentment.
But the two worlds blend perfectly to create a positive, heartwarming story. The emotional stakes are never undermined by the supernatural goings-on, but rather are enhanced by them.
Santa: I’m Santa Claus, Teddy. Not Yoda.
The Christmas Chronicles’ central message isn’t that Santa Claus or belief in Santa Claus can fix everything. The central message is simply that we live in a world marred by brokenness, and a little effort to healing that brokenness goes a long way.
A few stray thoughts:
- I don’t know if I’m just sentimental or if its the holidays getting to me, but the loss of Teddy and Kate’s dad and the emotional payoff that it led to really got me blubbering.
- I’ve never been anything close to a true believer by Santa’s standards, but even I would’ve believed in him after pulling those toys out of his coat.
- Did anyone else cringe when that guy’s wife ripped up the Mickey Mantle rookie card? It caused me physical pain.
- What was that elf with the chainsaw about to do to Teddy? I mean, yikes!
- It’s always wonderful to see my man Winnie-the-Bish (Lamorne Morris), who is an excellent scene stealer.
The Christmas Chronicles, despite my initial reservations, turns out to be an emotional yet family-friendly holiday film that should hold up for many years to come.
What did you think of Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Christmas Chronicles is now streaming on Netflix.
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.
One thought on “The Christmas Chronicles Review: Netflix’s Christmas Caper Hits All the Right Notes”
it was unremarkable trash!
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