Richard Curtis is neither a stranger to heartfelt comedy nor sentimental Christmas films and is the name behind works such as Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and, despite the criticisms lobbied at it, the Christmas classic Love Actually. A trademark of Curtis’ work has come to become entwined storylines and middle-class characters, who, for the most part, are bumbling and oblivious. They are too introverted to say what they mean or hold a conversation, leading to the most eventful interactions. His latest work, That Christmas, follows the same formula.
That Christmas is based on Curtis’ Christmas book trilogy, “That Christmas and Other Stories.” Joined by Peter Souter for the screenplay, the film is the directorial debut of Simon Otto. A veteran animator, Otto previously held the role of Head of Character Animation on the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. Having made its Netflix release on December 4, 2024, That Christmas has now joined the numerous other works released in time for the most anticipated season of the year. While being family-friendly and spreading the Christmas spirit, That Christmas also sees multiple storylines, which, despite being interwoven, seem to keep the film from its true potential.
What Is ‘That Christmas’ About?
That Christmas opens with Santa Claus flying with just one reindeer through what looks to be a terribly stormy night. While on his tumultuous journey, one which even has him almost tumbling off a roof, Santa sets the scene. That Christmas is about to tell the story of one particular Christmas that changed both his life and that of the inhabitants of Wellington-on-Sea, a quaint village in Suffolk.
When the story unravels, audiences find themselves immersed in a true Curtis-style work, with three different narratives within the same story. One focuses on the new kid in town and his overworked mother who is a NHS nurse, another zeroes in on a set of twins who seem to be complete opposites of each other, and the final narrative draws attention to a multi-ethnic group of friends and their children.
With a snowstorm wreaking destruction, canceling all Christmas events organized by Lighthouse Bill, and leaving parents and children stranded from each other, That Christmas makes itself a Christmas for the history books. Everything that could possibly go wrong has, including a nativity play in which Mary’s watermelon baby meets the most unfortunate end. How will the town of Wellington-on-Sea rally to make Christmas feel like Christmas again?
‘That Christmas’ Is a Child-Friendly Animation that Hits at the Emotions
That Christmas is the perfect Christmas family-watch, with a narrative and characters that appeal to all ages. Despite having an overall plot and three different narratives that ultimately center on Christmas and its true meaning, the film also branches off into several mini-plots. One strand follows Danny Williams as he navigates a complicated relationship with his ever-absent father. Despite his mother doing everything she can to fill the void, Danny yearns for a relationship with his father, although it never materializes in the film. Danny also forms an unexpected connection with his extremely strict headteacher, Ms. Trapper. Despite ruling with an iron fist and having the entirety of Wellington-on-Sea fear her, Ms. Trapper is extremely lonely.
Focusing on Ms. Trapper, That Christmas explores yet another plot, a narrative that centers on Christmas acting as a magnifier. While those who are happy and loved feel even more of those emotions during Christmas, there are some others who dread the holiday. For them, Christmas magnifies their loneliness and isolation. Steely personalities often hide vulnerabilities, and Ms. Trapper’s character is a prime example. The conclusion of the film reveals that she was once married, with her spouse seemingly from the military. According to the picture album she flips through, Ms. Trapper was once a joyful, happy-go-lucky person who built igloos and camped out. However, the loss of her loved one also meant a loss of spirit for her.
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Additionally, the film also follows twins Sam and Charlie, one nice and one naughty. Despite Charlie being seemingly uncontrollable, while her twin sister Sam is the epitome of goodness, the movie reveals that all of Charlie’s mischievous acts were actually for the sake of her sister. Similarly to Ms. Trapper’s character, Charlie’s character arc also alludes to the fact that a book should never be judged by its cover. With Charlie and Sam, the film explores the strong bond between siblings, with Charlie even doing all she can to make the romantic relationship between Danny and Sam come true.
In exploring multiple stories, including one where the eldest McNutt daughter, Bernadette, is tasked with taking care of the youngsters while the parents are stranded in a snowstorm, That Christmas has a storyline for everyone. In its final message of Christmas being about the people around you and not the pomp and exuberant celebrations of the season, the film gently hits at the emotions of viewers and stands as a timely reminder of the real meaning of Christmas.
Is That Christmas Trying to Juggle Too Much?
Despite being a heartwarmingly endearing story, That Christmas has attracted criticism for trying to juggle too much. Its multiple storylines and cast of characters with varying backstories mean that the film does, in fact, simply brush over certain aspects in its haste to touch on multiple issues. Overall, despite being a film that closes on a positive, wholesome note, it feels as if That Christmas is trying to reach a tad too far within its time span of just 91 minutes.
If the film had focused on just one narrative or maybe even two, the story may have had more depth. For example, Danny’s subplot of a child who yearns for his father’s love despite everything his mother does to keep him happy could have been expanded to explore the struggles of a single parent during the Christmas season.
This would have slotted in perfectly with the narrative that Christmas acts as a magnifier, where, despite the cheer and laughter of the season and the excitement of Santa Claus, real sadness and loneliness still linger. Wellington-on-Sea could have come together to become Danny’s new family, easing his pain and bringing the joy of the season to him. However, in trying to juggle multiple narratives, the film has Danny truly interact only with his mother, Ms. Trapper, and his romantic interest, Sam.
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That Christmas is a film fitting the Christmas season. Even the most horrifying circumstances, such as a van full of people getting stuck on ice that is about to crack and an unassuming toddler going missing just lengths away from the ocean, have the best possible endings. All is well, and everyone is joyful and merry as the community comes together to celebrate their sea swim tradition despite the havoc caused by the storm.
However, That Christmas joins a plethora of other Christmas movies with nothing too special to make it stand out. Perhaps if the film were to delve into just one narrative, a more substantial, memorable film could have been created. Despite this, the film is a perfect Christmas watch this year, especially for families looking for a feel-good movie to gather around on cold winter days. That Christmas is available to stream on Netflix.
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