December is here; a chill in the air. And that means only one thing: the holidays are here. But between the hanging of ornaments and bustle of gift shopping (completely altered this year), our media also needs to reflect this change in season. I am sure most of you have already heard Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé while switching the radio dial lately. Freeform and Hallmark have been the go-to channels for classic and new Christmas viewing. But to paraphrase Jane Austen, a person with time and a sizable streaming output is always in need of a different seasonal movie to consume.
Letâs start from the worst to the best. Unfortunately, this means I must talk about Hulu. This streamer has been on a race to the bottom in terms of content in this area. If you like Hallmark, then this may be for you. Their latest original âHappiest Seasonâ has portended to being groundbreaking for being a Christmas rom-com with a lesbian couple at its center. Even within the first twenty minutes, my disappointment was palpable. Poor sense of pace, humor so flat, characters with the depth of paper; very little redeeming quality. Aside from the (wasted) cast and the production values, not much to write home about. When you get to the climactic Christmas Eve soiree, you will want to drink more spiced alcoholic drinks than Kristin Stewart and Aubrey Plaza do to get through it.
Another trend I have noticed is the covert holiday movie taking hold. Disney+ has the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, a cute little bauble, but not a Christmas movie. Yes, there are droid ugly Christmas sweaters and tree trimming. However the celebration in question is Life Day, a reference to a previous entry in the Star Wars universe. In fact this is mostly a deep dive into the lore of a galaxy far, far away⊠Over on Netflix, you have Holidate. I thought this was about the winter season. In practice, a woman is tired of being hassled about not having a date for all the yearâs festivities. So she has a designated plutonic partner set up to get past this. Hijinks ensue!
Sequels are always a hard bargain. The novelty of the original may bring you back, but there has to be more to the story to entice you in. Netflixâs The Christmas Chronicles 2 brings back Kurt Russell as Santa to help the young daughter from the first film. We were introduced to Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus in a tease at the end of the first. She and Russell are the biggest draw here, completely adorable. With good incorporation of elements of the first film, once you get past the first ten minutes the movie hits its stride and it is smooth sailing.
Jingle Jangle, also streaming there, is a perfectly good choice for a quiet evening. An original musical, Forest Whitaker stars as Jangle, a toymaker/inventor who has seen his glory days leave him. Keenan Michael Key (in an unusual sinister turn) plays a former protĂ©gĂ©, a thief of Jangleâs secret inventions. His granddaughter comes to meet with him and her presence brings him back to life. The details in the sets and costumes are a feast for the eyes, never a dull moment. The quality of the music and the singing talent on hand, even from Whitaker, make for delightful entertainment.
All in all, my final pick hopefully will become a classic. Klaus, from 2019, is an animated reimagining of the Saint Nicholas tale. A young postman is sent to a remote town where a feud between families has been raging. In a turn of events, he meets a reclusive woodsmen who builds toys. Reluctantly they help each other in their struggles which brings about a great change in the town. A beautiful must-see from Netflix. Happy Holiday viewing!
