‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.
Landing on Netflix on December 4th, ‘That Christmas,’ which is driven by the work of festive veteran Richard Curtis (even if his one contribution to cinematic Christmas is the divisive ‘Love Actually’), who here adapts his children’s’ book series, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb.
Attempting to slot into the highly-prized pantheon of re-watchable Christmas movies (or at least be something that tired parents can plunk sugar-powered children down in front of while they try to sleep off the stresses of the season) is a risky maneuver and its one that this cheery, if somewhat simple comedy just falls short of.
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Does ‘That Christmas’ Deliver Joy?
‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.
If you’ve seen any of Curtis’ scripted work (he also directed ‘Love Actually’ from his own script back in 2003), you’ll know the recipe he’s using here: a multi-stranded story of different characters (pleasingly more diverse than some of his earlier efforts) dealing with crises and ultimately figuring out that coming together and being nice gets the job done.
Of course, that often counts double in Christmas movies, but it’s still not quite enough to boost this one to the ranks of, say ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ or ‘Elf.’ It’s cheery, mostly harmless kiddie affair, shot through with modern thinking about the world (and set in an extremely idealized, if gentrified small English town) but won’t otherwise win many points for originality.
And those who have seen ‘Arthur Christmas’ from 2011 might get a moment’s whiplash, partly because the animation looks in some ways similar, and because it shares a voice in Bill Nighy, who has handed the Santa reins to Brian Cox this time, but still pops up as a friendly lighthouse keeper. Not discounting that it comes from Locksmith Animation, a company part run by ‘Arthur’ co-writer and director Sarah Smith.
Script and Direction
Netflix’s ‘That Christmas’ writer Richard Curtis.
Curtis, working with Peter Souter, has taken the basic storylines from his books and mashed them up into one Christmas fable, albeit one grounded in a present-day society (social media and smart phones play a key role at this point.
It’s all pretty familiar stuff, agreeably multicultural, but still very familiar if you know his work. Yes, characters get into trouble, and there are disagreements, but everything is treated like a warm hug or a steaming mug of cocoa.
There are few surprises, but that’s not really the point, is it? No-one is expecting a festive family treat to end with one of the presents containing the same “gift” as at ‘Se7en’s conclusion, are they? (Though we would watch ‘A Very David Fincher Christmas.’)
Simon Otto, who has experience in the animation department of DreamWorks Animation’s mammoth ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ franchise, here drives his team to create some stylish and sweet imagery. It won’t challenge the likes of the ‘Spider-Verse’ movies or ‘The Wild Robot’ for true imagination, but it’s a step ahead of more basic children’s fare.
Performances
The voice cast is a big part of why this movie works, a largely British cast finding nuance in Curtis’ treacly writing.
Brian Cox as Santa
‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.
While he’s not as much the focus as in some Christmas movies, the version here is charming and funny, given a little extra gravitas by Cox. In combination with Guz Khan’s chatty reindeer Dasher (for blizzard-y reasons, Father Christmas is down to just the one sleigh-puller), he’s a welcome spin on the staple.
Fiona Shaw as Ms. Trapper
‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.
As the imposing, seemingly icy teacher who factors into at least a couple of the storylines, Shaw is the perfect pick for a role like this –– someone who is viewed one way (particularly by her young charges and those townsfolk who grew up with her tutelage), but who reveals hidden depths.
India Brown as Bernadette
Brown brings a peppy energy to the driven Bernadette, who is ultimately left having to oversee Christmas Day with her younger sibling and some friends when their parents are stuck returning from a wedding.
‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.
Jack Wisniewski as Danny
Along with Brown’s Bernadette and Zazie Hayhurst’s Sam, Danny is as close as we get to a real focus for the film’s different narratives. Wisniewski gives the right mix of joy and sorrow as the boy who desperately hopes his father would come and visit.
Supporting Cast
‘That Christmas’ has certainly scored its share of heavyweight performers from the UK and beyond (Curtis’ name certainly helps with that), and the likes of Jodie Whittaker, Rhys Darby, Lolly Adefope and Alex MacQueen all find the right levels for their various characters.
Final Thoughts
‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.
“It’s nice, that’s about it” sounds like damning with faint praise, but for a film this mild and somewhat predictable, yet with this big a heart, it feels like the right sentiment.
A Christmas classic? Hardly. But kids will enjoy it and adults won’t be put off, unless they happen to take their cue from Ebeneezer Scrooge.
‘That Christmas’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
What’s the story of ‘That Christmas’?
Based on the successful series of children’s books by Richard Curtis (‘Four Weddings and a Funeral,’ ‘Love Actually,’ ‘Yesterday’), ‘That Christmas’ follows a series of entwined tales about love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys…
Who is in the voice cast of ‘That Christmas’?
- Brian Cox as Santa Claus
- Fiona Shaw as Miss Trapper
- Jodie Whittaker as Mrs. Williams
- Bill Nighy as Lighthouse Bill
- Lolly Adefope as Mrs. McNutt
- Alex Macqueen as Mr. Forrest
- Katherine Parkinson as Mrs. Forrest
- Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Mulji
‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.
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