Netflix's The Christmas Chronicles Succeeds Largely Due To Kurt Russell's Brilliant Performance As Santa Clause.

      When one thinks of great Santa Clause movies for the holiday season, Tim Allen's 1994 family hit The Santa Clause comes to mind. That film since its release has become a staple in regards to what a movie based on Santa Clause should look like (Billy Bob Thorton's Bad Santa doesn't come to mind). With Netflix's The Christmas Chronicles, a new Santa Clause is born for today's generation of young audiences along with a story that carries with it heart, charm, and puts the spirit back into the concept of Christmas. Released on Netflix instead of receiving an official theatrical release much like Tim Allen's 90's movie, The Christmas Chronicles proved to be a huge hit with audiences despite receiving mixed reviews from critics with the film being praised for Kurt Russell's performance as Santa Clause along with the main criticism being drawn towards the films special effects as well as its campy style. Having watched the film, one can easily say that The Christmas Chronicles succeeds in delivering a new modern holiday classic despite its minor faults. The film succeeds largely thanks to Kurt Russell's brilliant performance as Santa, which ultimately proves to be both genius and clever casting. The movie also benefits from having young side characters, that the audience becomes connected with along with the movie being charming, funny, and at times, often magical with its child-like perspective in terms of exploring whether Santa Clause is real or a figment of the the main characters imagination. In a time where the world has become a darker and more cynical place, it's nice to have a Christmas story that can still make people believe in the impossible while paying homage to classic Christmas stories such as Miracle on 34th Street and Tim Allen's The Santa Clause.

      The plot for The Christmas Chronicles centers around a pair of siblings, Kate and Teddy Pierce, who still grieving over the loss of their father, hatch a plan on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Clause in the act on camera. Their plan leads them on an unexpected journey, that most kids dream of being apart of. The plot for The Christmas Chronicle works well in terms of bringing a fresh and brand new holiday story, that properly reintroduces Santa Clause for a new generation of young audiences while effectively modernizing the tale. The film largely plays on the imagination that young children have in regards to the mystery surrounding Santa Clause, as well as the curiosity and desire to see if such a person is real or not. The filmmakers behind The Christmas Chronicles succeed in making audiences relive their childhood nostalgia in regards to believing in Christmas and wanting to experience Santa's presence. The film works largely thanks to Russell's performance as Santa Clause with his role being the key to the film being as fun-spirited and energetic as it comes across. The characters of Kate and Teddy work well together because of their relatability to the audience in regards to feeling lonely and sad during the holiday season due to them not having their father around and their mother working hard to provide for them, while dealing with her own grief regarding her husbands loss. The family dynamic presented in the film is effective in terms of setting up the theme of the kids going on an adventure full of both imagination and wonder, while lowering their guard in terms of questioning what's reality. The story for The Christmas Chronicles is exactly what a holiday film should look and feel like with it having such a warmth feel to it, as well as possessing heart as well as a sentimental touch to it. The story highly encourages the audience to look into their own inner child in regards to fully enjoying the adventure that's present on the screen without regard for a hundred percent realism. The film does a solid job of transporting audiences to that place where they can feel like young children again at the age where they could believe that anything's possible.

      The films strongest asset lies within it's strong performances from its main cast with Kurt Russell's performance as Santa being the driving force behind the film. Russell's Clause is the main attraction of the film with his performance being so strong, he completely sells the idea to audiences that he is the one and the only Saint Nick (Audiences get a kick out of seeing his character poke fun, as well as being frustrated at the iconic stature of his character being depicted in pop culture as being overweight). Without Russell's casting being the biggest piece of the puzzle in terms of making the story work, the film wouldn't have turned out as well as it did. His character brings out the fun-spirited nature of the film along with the heart and charm hidden behind the films dramatic aspects of the story. As for his side characters, Darby Camp and Judah Lewis shine as siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce with Camp delivering the strongest performance of the two. Darby embodies the spirit of the young child, that pretends to go to sleep on Christmas Eve but secretly stays up late at night to catch Santa Clause leaving behind presents in the living room. She beautifully conveys that emotion with Judah Lewis effectively portraying the flawed older brother, who desires a Christmas present he can never receive from Santa, which is to see his father again. Lewis like Camp, succeeds in making the audience feel the pain the siblings feel over the loss of their dad along with an understanding of why Lewis character acts the way he does along with a cynical view of Christmas. Kimberley Williams-Paisley has a minimal role as Kate and Teddy's mother, but works in an effective yet generic role as the grieving mother, whose struggling to keep her family together while dealing with her loss in the only way she knows how which is staying busy with work. Oliver Hudson shines in his minimal role as the siblings father Doug, making the audience feel the loss with the brief yet poignant moments his character appears in archive footage. The cast as a whole is the strongest aspect of the film and deliver performances that are fun to watch but full of heart, emotion, charm, and possess a carefree attitude towards the story bringing complete believability to their roles.

      In terms of the films directing and writing, director Clay Kaytis does a solid job of creating an effective Christmas atmosphere that's enchanting and feels modernized. The film carries with it a genuine Christmas spirit, that comes with tons of clever and witty humor, mayhem, and a car chase involving the cops and Santa. The film feels like one endless homage to the holiday classic films of the 1980's as well as films like The Adventures In Babysitting. Kaytis takes the modern world and gives it a majestic feel in regards to making the audience feel like this scenario could happen now. He presents Santa as being a magical force that can speed from one Chimney to the next in seconds, while delivering presents in order to reach everyone on his good list in one night. The films weakest point in terms of direction lies within the films CGI work, particuarly the Elves of the North Pole despite being appealing look wise. The scenes with Santa on his sleigh are exciting, but not always compelling on a visual note, though it gives the film a Saturday morning feel to it. Watching the film, it's clear that the director and writers have a vision for this story, though one can't help but feel at times that it feels restraint due to it being confined as a Netflix film rather than a theatrical production. Director Clay Kaytis does a good job of taking a familiar Christmas story, and attempts to turn it upside down on it's head with the aim being both young and adult audiences. The films production qualities such as it's art-set decoration and costume design, work well together in terms of giving the film a Christmas style feel to it as well as a heartfelt score by Christophe Bank, and a steady pace that slowly builds up the anticipation the audience feels for the arrival of Santa's character on the screen. Once Kurt Russell's Clause arrives, the film takes off like a race car and doesn't lose momentum.

      The films screenplay by Matt Lieberman and story by David Guggenheim works well together in regards to playing off the classic elements of a traditional Christmas movie. The films opening sets up a sombre and moving subplot involving the family attempting to heal from the loss of the husband/father figure in their lives. While that subplot might be too mature for this type of story as well as making it a questionable inclusion into what's supposed to be a modernized take on a classical Christmas story, it helps to establish the siblings as being young kids who need to be reminded of what Christmas as well as the holiday season is truly about such as believing in the unbelievable, loving each other, forgiveness, and being kind to ohers. The film explores all of these themes within it's script, making them effective and relevant to today's audiences. The film also covers naughty behaviors such as Teddy having a history of stealing cars behind his families back as well as mistreating Kate. The film even presents a funny yet shocking twist involving Santa Clause and the siblings ending up in a high speed car chase in a twice-stolen car, that lands them in jail. The film also has moments where it has the siblings using words like "hell" or "damn" to make the characters feel natural to today's youth of kids in terms of how they speak. In terms of the overall script, it does a very good job of blending together all the elements to make an effective family film with the addition of Santa Clause into the story being a great twist. The families subplot is well-developed, making the audience feel and sympathize with them. The film has humor that hits both young and adult audiences perfectly without feeling forced (The whole "fake news" poke with Santa decrying a claim Kate makes in regards to him supposed to say Ho Ho Ho is brilliant). The film has a hilarious key sequence that includes Russell's Santa Clause performing a musical number with an improv band of criminals locked in a jail cell on Christmas Eve. That sequence is over-the-top but clever and funny with it representing the writers taking a different approach to the Santa Clause storyline, while keeping it cheerful and holiday-oriented. While one can argue that the films dramatic moments feel forced or the cheesy yet heartfelt speeches in which Santa tells characters such as Teddy to just be themselves comes across as feeling cringe-worthy, both elements work within the plot because of the message the film is trying to convey to audiences, young ones in particular. Audiences have clearly seen the subplot before involving the main characters fighting to save Christmas for millions of people before, but it still remains effective and gives them something to root for as they end up buying the rest of the story largely thanks to Kurt Russell's masterful performance as Santa Clause (Dare one says, he probably had more fun making this movie than he did any of his other films due to the role).

      In the end, The Christmas Chronicles proves to be a surprising experience, ultimately making it worthy of being a fun-spirited and entertaining Christmas tale that's destined to become a new holiday classic in the same vein as A Christmas Story, Home Alone, Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Allen's The Santa Clause, Bad Santa, and Elf. The film has elements within it's plot, which can be enjoyed and appreciated by audiences, both young and old. The film isn't perfect as it's CGI work on the young Elves is a bit shaky at times due to the limitations of the film being grounded in terms of it's budget, but it doesn't detract nor harm the film in a way which makes it unworthy of being a fun family-themed adventure. The film is a charming, imaginative, heartwarming, and uplifting experience that reminds audiences about what the soul of Christmas is truly about, while challenging them to relive their inner child in regards to believing in Santa Clause once again for the films well-acted 104 minute running time. The film is a must see for Kurt Russell fans as well as those looking for a creative and somewhat original Christmas story, that borrows elements from the past while reimagining the classic story for today's generation making it funny, exciting, and full of heart. For those who were skeptical of The Christmas Chronicles at first and went in with caution at how Netflix would pull this one off, the results proved to be a surprising and genuinely satisfying experience that's worth watching and being enjoyed by families this Christmas. If one is hesitant to see this movie, give it a chance as the film itself will surprise you.

Final Verdict: For Kurt Russell fans as well as those searching for a different type of Christmas film rather than watching the same ones again, The Christmas Chronicles is a must-see.