Harry Situation Reviews: The Christmas Chronicles

It’s too early for Christmas, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get into the holiday spirit.

The Christmas Chronicles is a new Netflix original film produced by Chris Columbus (director of Home Alone and Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone), and stars Kurt Russell as Santa Claus. The story centers around two siblings who hatch a scheme to document evidence for the existance of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. But then the plan goes awry when they sneak onto his sleigh and Santa looses his hat, his bag, and his reindeer. The trio must join forces and help Santa get all his things back in order to save the holiday.

All I can say about this film is wow... this was so, so ridiculous... but I loved it so, so much!

I mean it! I loved this film!

Kurt Russell sells it as Saint Nick. To be honest, it’s an odd casting choice, but he owns it. He’s really the biggest highlight of the whole movie. He really gets into the spirit of Santa Claus, and oddly enough, he actually becomes the big man in the red suit. He’s funny, he’s serious, and he looks like he’s having the time of his life. I think he’s probably one of my Top 10 favorite portrayals of Santa Claus.

I surprisingly liked the two young actors that played the siblings in this film too. Neither one was annoying, and neither one was overly precious. They were both likable characters in their own right. I also liked how they played off each other like real siblings, even to the serious moments when they have to talk about their father's death. It really brings some emotional drama that's really well done.

Yet what really makes this film is how over-the-top it really is. I mean, shit. This movie is basically a cheese factory. It can be so corny with its lightheartedness that it's a blast to watch. For example, there's a moment where the older brother and Santa Claus commit grand theft auto and drive around Chicago, trying to escape the cops. Bet you didn't expect that in a Christmas movie featuring Santa, huh? But let's not forget when Santa is in jail and he gets the other prisoners to sing a jailhouse blues song with him. I'm not making this shit up. It's in this fucking movie, and it's fucking awesome.

The special effects in this movie look bad. Like, Garfield bad. No, like, Alvin and the Chipmunks bad. I mean Netflix put out better stuff with way better CGI. The reindeer definitely were not real. And the elves... holy shit! They look creepy. They look like crossbreeds between a cat and a furby. But I’ll give the movie is much credit, these are the most original looking elves I’ve seen in a movie. Normally, they’re just smaller versions of normal people with pointy ears, or they look like Orlando Bloom.

This movie is probably the corniest thing put out on Netflix, but honestly, who cares. I had a blast watching it from start to finish. I can’t remember the last holiday film I’ve seen that was this much fun. Let me just highlight this word again: fun.

This movie was fun. It really puts me into the holiday spirit, which is what I think that was the whole point of the movie. It's got enough cheese to be ridiculous, but it balances out with likable characters and enough emotional drama that touches the heartstrings. I believe that this film will quickly become a holiday classic. Maybe a cult classic if it’s lucky. Not to mention, it’s the perfect warm-feeling family film for everyone to enjoy. I definitely recommend checking this movie out on Netflix, and it gets my seal of approval. I think I might make watching this film a holiday tradition.

Positives:

-Kurt Russell as Santa Claus

-The two siblings

-Good emotional drama

-Very lighthearted

-Over-the-top fun

Negatives:

-Some pretty bad CG effects

Final Grade: A-

Minor spoiler alert at the end of the film, but it's something I want to bring up. Mrs. Claus makes an appearance at the end of the flick, and she is played by none other than Goldie Hawn, who is the real wife to Kurt Russell. Pretty cool, huh?

So there's my thoughts on my new favorite Christmas movie, The Christmas Chronicles. Have you seen it? What were your thoughts? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and be sure to check out more reviews once they're posted here on Prose!

Best Quote:

Teddy: “Can’t you just wave your hand, and like, Jedi mindtrick the cops?”

Santa Claus: “I’m Santa Claus, Teddy, not Yoda.”

#harrysituationreviews #netflix #film #opinion #christmas #holiday #santaclaus #family #fun #AGrade