The man who once did battle with “The Thing” is the latest to don Santa Claus’ red suit in the Netflix original “The Christmas Chronicles.”
That’s right. No sooner than the last bite of turkey has been gobbled up and we’re ready for the Christmas movie season. Netflix has made a mark for itself with a host of original movies and series, many of which are award winning, and its newest Christmas treat featuring Hollywood legend Kurt Russell as the big man will keep you laughing and put you smack dab in the middle of the Holiday merriment.
“The Christmas Chronicles” blends the elements of a Hallmark movie; with an adorable single mom (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) left to rear two kids, a ten-year-old Christmas obsessed daughter named Kate, and her older and sullen brother named Teddy, with Russell’s fresh take on jolly ol’ Saint Nick.
I loved the opening montage in which we meet the Pierce family via a series of camcorder recordings documenting the holiday over the course of a decade plus. As the family grows, we get to witness with envy how great it would have been if our own parents had been so meticulous in their chronicling of major events. A handful of minutes into the story and we feel like we know and like the Pierces enough to be invested with them for the remainder of the film.
The movie itself is a perfect family affair, with tame though seemingly constant thrills, and the common theme of the Christmas season being a part of young and old characters alike. It’s set in Chicago which is a different take than the typical New York backdrop, and the birthplace of the skyscraper makes for an awesome showcase of giant buildings and shimmering lights. And to shatter any doubt that the story is current, Santa at one point scoffs at the notion that he should say Ho Ho Ho calling it “fake news.”
The movie focuses on the Pierce children, played well by Judah Lewis and Darby Camp, and of course Kurt Russell who is really fun as a cooler version of Santa. If you’re expecting a plump hefty sort, thin again. Kurt Russell adds spice to the legendary character, and we get things you won’t find in “It’s a Wonderful Life” such as barroom brawls, car chases with police, and Santa leading a caroling concert from a cell inside the county jail.
While limited in her screen time, Kimberly Williams-Paisley (who I was in love with on the television show ‘According to Jim’) is a perfect cute and struggling single mother, and the great Lamorne Morris (TV’s ‘New Girl’) is a hysterical ancillary character playing the type that fans of his work on the television show will appreciate – he’s a cop and the only one who witnesses Santa’s magic and is thus not believed by anyone else (its vintage Winston Bishop).
The movie incorporates the usual charade of Santa, the flying sleigh, and of course the reindeer. We also get CGI elves that are a tad creepy at first but will grow on you, and a new bit of magic that features the bag of toys.
“The Christmas Chronicles” is a fun story that serves as a perfect kickoff to the Holiday movie season. It doesn’t have the staying power of “Home Alone” or “The Santa Claus,” but will surely fill your need for an enjoyable movie watching evening.
by – Matt DeCristo
1 Comment
Really a b. This film is slow in the middle. Not bad at the end. It has problems with direction throughout the film. A c at best.