The Christmas Chronicles

I was dreading this would be much sweeter and gooier. There was melodrama (obviously – it was an American film about Christmas!), but it was bearable. A bigger problem was that the film stopped working for me when Kurt Russell wasn't on screen. The second major problem for me were the elves. I really didn't like them and they ruined my impression of the whole film – which is why I only give three stars. (2019-12-30)

Netflix tried its hand at Christmas comedies, making a chill-out piece where Santa Claus is portrayed by Kurt Russell. And I don’t know what more should I say, because this means that the quality of such a movie is guaranteed. For an American comedy, it’s quite a Christmas experience I haven’t had in a while, and I was happy to have it this year. The whole time I was wondering whether Kurt’s beard was real or fake… they masked him so well that he was indistinguishable from a real Santa :-). (2019-12-11)

Another average movie from Netflix dressed in a Christmas costume. It won't offend or amaze, but maybe it will partially catch your heart. I believe Kurt Russell had a great time filming. His role really suits him and belongs to the better parts of the whole movie. The sequel is supposed to be better thanks to the connection with his old good partner Goldie Hawn. (2020-11-07)

Basically it's an American variation on the Christmas movies with Doctor Who. It's playful, it has a solid fast pace and it's just Christmas-catching in the right places in a specific way that only works at Christmas. After all, during other time of the yeas it is pointless to watch Perhaps it's just an unreasonably long movie, sadly, and the best scene (in a restaurant) is shown too soon, but Kurt enjoys Santa “macho" so much that he doesn't mind those few (tens) minutes above the more reasonable footage. That is, except for the passages with the annoyingly infantile “Mimon´s style" elves, who fit into the chosen style as smoothly as Halina Pawlowská's foot in Cinderella's shoe, I mean it doesn´t fit at all. (2018-12-25)

Christmas Chronicles came out of nowhere and even more surprised me with how successful feel-good movie it is for any winter evening. Of course, one must not have too high expectations, this is simply the kind of movie for quieting the mind and enjoying the Christmas atmosphere, but with the absolutely brilliant Kurt Russell, who enjoyed playing the unconventional Santa with pleasure and clearly had a blast on set. Will there be a sequel this year? (2019-05-01)