Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles 2 brings back Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn in this colorful, family-friendly sequel. Check out all the details in this parents guide movie review.
The Christmas Chronicles 2 is the follow up to the popular 2018 film starring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus himself. When it comes to sequels, one has to wonder if it will live up to the original movie, especially considering the original was a huge hit and adored by many. Well rest assured, The Christmas Chronicles 2 not only delivers a really good film, but dare I say it was better than the first?! I did say it and the truth is, I totally enjoyed it better than the original! Check out all the details in this parents guide movie review.
The Christmas Chronicles 2 Quotes
The Christmas Chronicles 2 Parents Guide
The Christmas Chronicles 2 plot is simple: Kate Pierce (Darby Camp) is now a teen and is spending the holidays with her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend (Tyrese Gibson). This is the first serious boyfriend her mom has had since the death of their dad, and the two seem to be growing very close, even inviting the boyfriend’s son Jack (Jahzir Bruno) to join in on their trip. Not only does the company there have Kate in the dumps, but also her opinion that Christmas should not be celebrated in the tropics.
To make things more complicated, Kate and Jack are abducted by a disgruntled elf named Belsnickel (Julian Dennison) and sent to Santa’s Village. Reunited with Santa (Kurt Russell) and Mrs. Claus (Goldie Hawn), they soon realize they were sent there as a trap!
The Christmas Chronicles 2 Age Appropriate
What are the flags parents need to watch out for when their kids view The Christmas Chronicles 2? Let’s break it down.
Language: If you watched the original, the language in this sequel is on the same lines. There is no cursing in this movie and the strongest language you will hear are words like suck and butt. We do get some “rude” type of humor, like fart jokes and burps.
Villains: We have a villain in the story, but he is far from a “scary” sort of villain, more like a villain who fell from grace, and going down the wrong path to right the wrongs he believes were done. The scarest part of the villain scenes are with his sidekick, an evil looking cat which they call “Yule Cat”, who at one point attacks the reindeer leaving Dasher injured.
All in all, I believe The Christmas Chronicles 2 is very safe for all ages. Sure, there may be a few scarish scenes but we do not actually see the violence that is implied but rather only the after math, like when Dasher was injured.
Overall Thoughts
The Christmas Chronicles 2 gives the gift of a wholesome, fun, holiday adventure all wrapped into one beautifully designed package. Santa’s Village is one like we have never seen, colorful and bright! And while Kurt Russell returns as the snarky, yet lovable, Santa we fell in love with in the first film; it is the addition of Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus which really brings the sequel to life. This addition is not overlooked in the film either, and on many ocassions it is suggested to rename Santa’s Village to Mrs. Claus’ Village.
The amazing casting done by director Chris Columbus is spot on with franchise newcomers Tyrese Gibson and Jazhir Bruno. We see Santa’s Village (or should I say Mrs. Claus’ Village) through bright new eyes with Jack (Jazhir Bruno) being a part of the story, giving us all the magic and holiday feels each time his face lights up with joy.
If I had one complaint, it would be the length of the film was a tad too long and resulted in some scenes becoming a bit disjointed. Sure it was sweet to see Santa travel into the past, so a certain someone could tell a loved one “goodbye” but it really didn’t add much to the plot itself and lost focus on the main story line.
In a year it seems we need hope, magic and overall holiday joy the most, Netflix delivers us a story which takes away all our worries for a moment and brings a smile back to our faces. The Christmas Chronicles 2 is a delight and proves this franchise has the potential for a merry and bright future! And as many of us have come to the realization that Christmas this year will look very different, this movie reminds us: Christmas isn’t about where you are but who you’re with.
