I confess I had no idea that Richard Curtis — “Love Actually” and “About Time” filmmaker, “Bridget Jones” and “Notting Hill” screenwriter — had written a trio of quite charming kids’ books about Christmas. It shouldn’t have been a surprise: The man loves the holiday and he definitely loves glossy stories about human connection, and what better outlet for those impulses than some charmingly illustrated storybooks for the younger set? Leave it to Curtis (and Netflix) to cleverly one-up that idea: What better outlet for those impulses than a charmingly animated holiday film for the entire family?
For his first animated outing — directed by Simon Otto and co-written by Curtis and Peter Souter — the rom-com king has turned his trio of books into a single, delightful holiday feature that offers something for everyone, especially the people who get mushy about glossy stories about human connection. While Curtis’ books — “That Christmas,” “Snow Day,” and “The Empty Stocking” — offer standalone stories about holiday hi-jinks, for “That Christmas” the film, he’s connected the trio into one sprawling, high-spirited outing.
Set in the sweet little hamlet of Wellington-on-Sea (the fictional town is in Suffolk, and indeed right on the coast), Curtis, Souter, and Otto unspool a large cast of characters (over 20 key roles, if we’re counting the lone sassy reindeer who appears, and we very much do) to tell their tale of a Christmas almost gone to pot. Wisely, however, “That Christmas” is mostly concerned with three leading stars — all kiddos — through whom we experience a wacky and often quite emotional holiday. Drawing largely from “Love Actually,” which Curtis seems all too game to lovingly skewer throughout the film, the interconnected stories complement each other, while also smartly keeping the film clipping along at an amiable pace (read: good for both the young ‘uns and their distracted parents).
Each of the animated stars of “That Christmas” previously led Curtis’ individual books, but no existing knowledge of them and their trials and travails is essential to enjoy the film. There’s new boy Danny (voiced by Jack Wisniewski), who moved to Wellington after his parents got divorced (his mother is a hard-working nurse, his father an absent cad), who has a major crush on the anxious Sam (voiced by Zazia Hayhurst), who is often in the shadow of her more outrageous twin sister Charlie (voiced by Sienna Sayer). We first meet them as they’re about to mount the annual Christmas holiday show (hello, “Love Actually”) at their local school, which has been given some serious freshening by zippy director Bernadette (voiced by India Brown).
While Bernie’s wily stage extravaganza — all you need to know is, it’s titled “The Three Wisewomen,” has a vested interest in both climate change and Madonna, and seems screamingly funny — sets the town and its kid stars off-balance early on, it’s the massive blizzard heading their way that’s really going to threaten the holiday in a town we learn is particularly “keen on Christmas.” Narrated by Santa (voiced by Brian Cox), who sets out lots of stakes early and is personally set on helping where he can, “That Christmas” may be holiday-centric, but its messages about community, doing good, and kindness are timeless and universal.
It’s also, blessedly, fun. As the blizzard grips the town (and, it must be noted, the animated rendering of snow, flakes, and wind is evocative and impressive), each of our pint-sized heroes have to grapple with different issues that are only exacerbated by the pressures of having a picture-perfect holiday to remember. Danny misses his dad, so much that he can’t see the pain his mom is in (some hearty lessons from fierce teacher Ms. Trapper help set him right). Sam can’t kick the notion that naughty Charlie is about to get zilch in her stocking, a feeling made all the worse by her keen understanding that her sister isn’t actually bad, just bright and different. And Bernie? The natural leader soon finds an hours-long babysitting gig (including her cute kid sister and a trio of their best neighborhood pals) stretching far longer when their parents get stuck in the storm.
How ever will these plucky kids solve their problems, learn to be better people, and have a holiday to remember? That Curtis, Souter, and Otto would tie all those answers up with a metaphorical big red bow is a given — it is, of course, an animated holiday outing for the whole family, released on our biggest streamer just in time for winter break — but that they still find emotion, amusement, and joy in it sets “That Christmas” a cut above other animated holiday fare. The old chestnuts hold true for this one, the goofy holiday puns: it’s a gift well worth unwrapping and sharing with the ones you love most.
Grade: B+
“That Christmas” premiered at the 2024 London BFI Film Festival. It will start streaming on Netflix on Friday, December 6.
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