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A Boy Called Christmas - Film Review |
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In what may very well be the most well written, best acted and
wonderfully directed family Christmas film in ages, A Boy Called
Christmas, now streaming on Netflix has at its center actor Henry
Lawfull, as Nikolas or as his mother called him Christmas. This is an
enchanting story of the origins of Christmas, born from the imaginations
of author Matt Haig, whose book the screenplay by Ol Parker and Gil
Kenan is based on. Gil Kenan also directed the film.
Dame Maggie Smith appears as Aunt Ruth, and she certainly needs no
introduction and her performance is just as stellar as the rest of her
career has been. Dutch actor Michiel Huisman, whom among his many film
and television credits counts, Angela Black (TV), The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Society (film-2018), Game of Thrones
as Daario Naharis and the character Liam McGuinnis in Nashville
portrays Nikolas’ father Joel, in an understated way. Stephen Merchant
is fabulous as the voice of the mouse Miika. Zoe Margaret Colletti is
simply brilliant as the Truth Pixie.
Oh yes we forgot to mention this story has a pixie, a troll, and many,
many elves who live in an…hmm….well a magical place, called Elfhelm,
where of course elves live and for this story at least it is found in
the north of Finland. This is the right Christmas film for December
2021, because it reminds us of hope and goodness, even if it is a
screenplay born from imagination. COVID-19 and all the ramifications
that have come with that have done a number on our psyches that we may
not yet understand for many years. There is enough light humor and there
are enough magical moments to balance the sadness that several of these
characters experience.
Although, you may anticipate some of the ending you will not predict all
of it. This writer was certainly caught off guard by some of the plot
twists.
If you are a believer that less is often more in acting performances, as
we believe, then you will love the supporting cast including the many
wonderful child actors.
Netflix gets a lot of things right, some things wrong and this time with
a Netflix original production they gave us a wonderful Christmas gift,
which someday we will look back on as a timeless classic A Boy Called
Christmas. If you have a family watch this film together. If you do
not have family, invite a friend to watch it with you. Your time will be
well invested.
You can watch the
trailer here.
#C
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