Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games. There have even been years without a major studio release bearing any holiday themes or connections. It’s being given a sizable marketing push with the star power of Kurt Russell and the production clout of Chris Columbus (“from the film-makers that brought you Home Alone …”) but sadly, no number of mobile push notifications could turn this into a movie worth watching. Russell’s line delivery of some of the worst clunkers – more than once, he’s asked to simply quote a Christmas carol – is suave enough to rescue them and, in many cases, they provide the most entertaining comic beats of the film. All rights reserved. [2] The film was set in Lowell, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois. When Santa reveals his wish this year is to reconcile with his ex-wife Lisa, who also shares that wish, Poveda is taken aback, but still refuses to believe him. The Christmas Chronicles is a 2018 American Christmas comedy film directed by Clay Kaytis from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman. Hijinks and (attempted) heartwarming ensue and before we know it, we find Santa locked up in the slammer offering his own take on jailhouse rock. Engross yourself in his fantasy series: The Aldoran Chronicles and Street Rats of Aramoor. The Christmas Chronicles is no Christmas chestnut, but Netflix has more freedom than a traditional studio to make one. In Netflix’s new seasonal outing, The Christmas Chronicles, there are moments aplenty. "[6] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 52 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews. And Christmas trees look great on film. Kurt Russell & @GoldieHawn are back to save the holidays in THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES 2, only on Netflix 25 November", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Christmas_Chronicles&oldid=987554989, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 November 2020, at 20:17. Over the past 10 years, Hollywood has been hesitant to put much effort behind Christmas movies. Between the atrocious green-screen work, the blatant stock footage helicopter shots of city skylines and painfully obvious Toronto-for-America locations, you would be forgiven for thinking this movie was made in 1992. Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★. When Kate decides to make her presence known, Santa and the reindeer are startled and he loses control of the sleigh. Santa is played by Russell who instantly brings a level of energy and professionalism sorely lacking from the film. Back in the North Pole, Santa reunites with Mrs. Claus (Goldie Hawn). Fortunately, Christmas comes just once a year and Netflix’s Christmas movies will fade from your log-in screen soon enough. While Russell does his killer Elvis impression and Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul cameo as his backup band, you might ask yourself, if this still for kids? The Christmas Chronicles, 2018. At any other time of year, a film like The Christmas Chronicles would be dismissed as nonsensical, cheesy pap. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Directed by Clay Kaytis. If they don’t do it in time, a large percentage of children won’t get their Christmas presents and that would be bad for everyone (“Ever heard of the Dark Ages?” Santa offers as a warning). Santa drops the kids off back at their home before their mother returns. Seriously, there is so much camcorder action you’d think this was a Paranormal Activity spin-off. and Kurt Russell’s Father Christmas at the wheel of a bright red Dodge Challenger. At the police precinct, Santa tries to explain his situation to Officer Poveda. It’s also so oppressively cheery that you just know it will culminate in the absence of a family member by the time we reach present day. But as a festive movie, there’s a tolerance for saccharine schmaltz and Christmas cracker comedy that doesn’t exist at any other time of year. Christmas movies are about moments. They locate the reindeer but encounter a police car driven by police officers Dave Poveda (Martin Roach) and Mikey Jameson (Lamorne Morris). Kate goes after the reindeer by herself while Teddy and Santa lure the police away. The Christmas Chronicles: Movie Clip - Kate and Teddy Catch Santa. I already can’t wait to dive back in. Seeing that Christmas Spirit has gotten too low, Santa gathers all the inmates to perform "Santa Claus Is Back in Town", which works amongst all the officers except Poveda. This year brings The Holiday Calendar, The Princess Switch, A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding and, positioned as their tree topper, The Christmas Chronicles. When he leaves, he gives Kate a "Ho, Ho, Ho", a saying he previously stated was an urban myth about him. Over and over again, The Christmas Chronicles crashes headlong into a snow drift of cliché, only to somehow style it out and get away with it. In December 2017, it was reported that Kurt Russell would star as Santa Claus in the film, for Netflix,[2] later given the title The Christmas Chronicles. The two children follow. The kids are forced to help him after he threatens to list them as bad kids permanently. When a pair of siblings try to catch Santa Claus in the act on Christmas Eve, they inadvertently crash his sleigh and trigger a race against time to save Christmas. Her younger daughter Kate (Darby Camp) nevertheless is trying to keep Christmas spirit alive.