So far as I’m involved, Love Really is likely one of the greatest Christmas films ever made. The nice romantic comedy, written and directed by Richard Curtis, is one thing my spouse and I watch each vacation season (after Nationwide Lampoon’s Christmas Trip, in fact), however have but to introduce to our three youngsters. I feel that it’ll nonetheless be a couple of extra years earlier than we present all of them these wild and romantic tales that play out over its runtime, however Netflix’s That Christmas provided us another on the 2024 film schedule.
I just lately sat down and watched this charming, humorous, and heartwarming Netflix Christmas film, which was written by Curtis and directed by Methods to Practice Your Dragon’s Simon Otto. I have to say, it was not solely a success with the entire household, however it additionally allowed me to introduce my youngsters to the world of one in every of my favourite screenwriters and storytellers.
Right here’s why I feel one of many greatest films on Netflix may turn out to be useful for folks in related conditions…
I’ve Lengthy Needed To Introduce My Children To Love Really However Did not Have A Method In
As I simply talked about, I’ve lengthy wished to introduce my youngsters to Love Really however by no means actually had a means in. Yeah, the 2003 romantic comedy consisting of all these separate but interconnected tales isn’t probably the most intense film from the rom-com style, however I felt that some scenes may be an excessive amount of for my youngsters whereas others would both be type of boring or fly over their heads.
I’ve proven them clips like Sam enjoying drums within the college pageant to gauge their curiosity, however by no means pulled the set off. However now, with That Christmas, I’ve discovered a solution to ease them into the world of Richard Curtis with this hilarious and emotional book-to-screen adaptation (of a kids’s novel he additionally wrote). I didn’t have to clarify what John and Judy do for a residing, why Colin desires to go to America so badly, or different conditions that could be an excessive amount of for them. And it labored. It labored remarkably nicely!
At Occasions, That Christmas Feels Like A Religious Successor To Love Really (However With Santa)
I get it, each Love Really and That Christmas are each written by Curtis, so there are going to be some similarities right here and there, however the 2024 Netflix unique seems like a non secular successor to the beloved romantic vacation film greater than anything from the author’s assortment. Positive, it’s an animated youngsters film with Brian Cox as Santa Claus as an alternative of a swirling rom-com about unrequited love, however it seems like they’re in the identical universe and share related tones.
Although the recurring little bit of the adults wanting to observe Love Really as a vacation custom whereas the youngsters consider it as an outdated, boring Christmas film could harm my argument, I stand by it. There are related themes about love, friendship, household, and the rationale for the season, in addition to a Christmas pageant that includes meals within the nativity scene, that had me excited about a few of Love Really’s most iconic moments.
The Household-Pleasant Christmas Film Would not Shy Away From Some Heavy Matters
Talking of themes, That Christmas doesn’t shrink back from taking over some fairly heavy matters. All through the film, we study characters grieving long-deceased spouses, youngsters attempting to know why their mother and father received divorced, and the way loneliness can have an effect on folks over the vacations. Pertaining to these heavier matters may result in some questions by your youngsters and conversations you didn’t count on to have after watching a family-friendly comedy, however that is actually an effective way of beginning these discussions.
I’m not dogging different vacation youngsters films, as these matters have a tendency to return up once in a while, however I can’t assist however really feel that Netflix’s That Christmas finds the right stability between exposing your youngsters to the darkness of the world and hiding all the pieces from them. If something, I really feel like my youngsters are higher ready for among the extra grownup tones of Love Really, in addition to About Time and 4 Weddings and a Funeral, now that they’ve dipped their toes into Richard Curtis tales about love, loss, and new beginnings. I’m not saying it’s going to occur anytime quickly, however that is positively one thing that’s on my radar.
My Daughter Fell In Love With Richard Curtis’ Characters And Writing, Which Is Nice
My daughter preferred That Christmas a lot she ended up watching it once more the next day, one thing I haven’t seen her do in fairly a while. I talked along with her concerning the film after her second viewing and requested why she preferred it a lot. It got here all the way down to the characters, with a whole lot of her admiration geared in the direction of Sam and Charlie Beccles, the twins on the heart of one of many animated movie’s funniest and most adorable subplots, and Danny Williams, the brand new child on the town who performs a giant position over the course of the story.
My daughter additionally actually preferred Curtis’ story, which admittedly introduced a whole lot of pleasure to my coronary heart. Possibly I’ll sit her down someday quickly and present her Love Really and my different favourite Curtis films. Nonetheless, I’m unsure I’m prepared for her to see me bawling on the sofa throughout one explicit scene in About Time.
And I Cannot Not Speak About That Christmas’ Great Needle Drops
Like a whole lot of Curtis’ different films, Love Really is crammed with nice needle-drop moments, which is one thing I’ve at all times loved whereas watching. Properly, That Christmas isn’t any totally different, because the animated Netflix film has a improbable soundtrack, with all the pieces from the Spice Women’ “Wannabee” to “Beneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson to a brand new Ed Sheeran observe made particularly for the movie.
These musical moments, in addition to some hilarious songs carried out by the voice forged, introduced pleasure to us all as my household watched That Christmas, in additional methods than one. All in all, the songs made the expertise all of the merrier for everybody.
Watching That Christmas with my household was actually one of the fulfilling film night time experiences of the 12 months, and never simply because it helped me introduce my youngsters to the world of Richard Curtis. In case you haven’t already, you may watch the vacation flick with a Netflix subscription.
Stream That Christmas on Netflix.