A Boy Called Christmas is a charming, yet heart-rending Christmas origin story to kick off the holiday season. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
Netflix’s A Boy Named Christmas dropped onto the streaming service today, November 24th. The film is based on Matt Haig’s popular children’s book of the same name, and tells the origin story of Father Christmas. It stars Henry Lawfull, Kristen Wiig, and Maggie Smith, and takes viewers on a magical, yet heartbreaking, adventure. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
If you enjoyed this A Boy Called Christmas parents guide movie review, check out these other articles: Netflix’s Elves parents guide review, Netflix’s True Story parents guide review, Bruised parents guide movie review, 8-Bit Christmas parents guide movie review, Extinct parents guide movie review.
A Boy Called Christmas Quotes
A Boy Called Christmas Parents Guide
An ordinary young boy called Nikolas (Henry Lawfull) sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father (Michiel Huisman) who himself is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and a loyal pet mouse (Stephen Merchant), Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical, comical and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible.
A Boy Called Christmas Age Appropriate Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what parents need to know before letting their kids watch A Boy Called Christmas.
Language: The language in A Boy Named Christmas is extremely mild. The harshest word viewers may come across is “fool.”
Mature Content: The film can be a bit depressing at times and is hard to watch as it contains scenes where a boy is mistreated by family members and has lost a parent. There are scenes which put the characters in dangerous situations, and one character loses their life. There is a scene that shows an animal with an arrow stuck in it, which could be upsetting to some kids. And there is another scene that shows a young elf being kidnapped, although no harm comes to him.
Overall Thoughts
A Boy Called Christmas is truly depressing throughout much of the film. Many of the themes in the movie were dark and heartbreaking, especially for someone who has lost a parent or a loved one. When juxtaposed with the dispirited tale, the visuals are bright, colorful, and absolutely gorgeous to view. The stunning imagery aids in envoking the “Christmas spirit” in viewers, despite the sorrowful events that take place.
Henry Lawfull (Les Miserables) plays Nikolas, and the casting could not be more spot on. This is Lawfull’s first major role, and he not only looks the part, but exudes the child-like wonder coupled with an inner strength that embodies his character. Lawfull’s character in this period piece has an old-fashioned charm that lends authenticity to his performance. The supporting cast delivered outstanding performances, particularly Stephen Merchant, who voices Miika the mouse, and Maggie Smith, who plays Aunt Carlotta and narrates the film. It was a brilliant move to include this Princess Bride style of narration, as it gives viewers a “break” from some of the darker moments, when the scenes cut away to Aunt Carlotta explaining certain intense scenes to her nieces and nephew.
All in all, A Boy Called Christmas is an enjoyable and entertaining watch. Due to its depressing nature, this one will not become a yearly holiday classic on audiences’ Christmas movie watch lists. Admittedly, Christmas can be depressing for many people as they cull their experiences from the year as it is nearing its end, and from even further back as well. Past holiday seasons that could be filled with regret, sorrow, and lost loved ones weigh heavily on many. Whether this film will fill that void or simply serve to strike a nerve remains to be seen, but regardless, this is the sort of story that is worthy of being told.
