A Festive Guide to 2020's New Christmas Streaming Options
Despite the halted production that affected most of Hollywood during the COVID pandemic, there are a number of brand new Christmas movies and specials that have come to streaming services in recent weeks. Here, I review ten of the most high profile ones, which feature a vast array of talent ranging from legendary musicians like Dolly Parton and Mariah Carey to Oscar winning movie icons like Goldie Hawn and Forest Whitaker to hot young stars like Kristen Stewart and Dan Levy to lovable fictional characters like Bugs Bunny and the Minions.
It is hard for many to imagine the holidays without the festive movies, television specials, and music that have embedded themselves into popular culture over the last several decades.
Classics movies from Hollywood’s Golden Age like It’s a Wonderful Life (1943) and Miracle on 34th Street (1947) are essential viewing for many people at Christmas, as are more recent classics like Elf (2003) and Love Actually (also 2003…what a year!). Then there are underrated entries into the Christmas movie genre that bring me immense joy each year like The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), While You Were Sleeping (1995), and The Holiday (2006). And what would the Christmas season be without a debate over whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie?
Classic television specials like Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer (1964), A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) remain perennial holiday traditions for folks despite initially airing over a half century ago. My personal favorite is A Muppet Family Christmas (1986), which united all of Jim Henson’s creations (the Muppets, the Fraggles, and the Sesame Street gang), but is sadly only available via bootlegged versions on YouTube due to licensing issues.
And then there’s the Christmas music that makes the season. It is projected that on next week’s Billboard Hot 100, 7 of the top 10 songs will be Christmas classics like Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” and Wham!’s “Last Christmas.” Mariah Carey’s modern Christmas classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is poised to make a historic return to the #1 spot, one year after its history-making ascent to the pole position. (Read about the historic endurance of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” here.)
Despite COVID-19 shutting down much of the entertainment sector for 2020, streaming services have nevertheless been flooded with brand new Christmas fare in recent weeks. Numerous high profile films, animated specials, and music specials have premiered in recent weeks, all undoubtedly hoping to join the aforementioned classics in the Christmas pantheon.
To help you figure out which are worth your time (and to bring myself some Christmas joy in this dreary year), I reviewed 10 of the most high profile new holiday offerings and rated them in terms of overall quality and Christmas Spirit (see rating scales below). Without further ado, here is my recap.
Quality ratings from ⭐ to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Christmas Spirit ratings from 🎄 to 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
LIVE ACTION MOVIES:
The Christmas Chronicles 2 (115 minutes; Netflix)
2018’s The Christmas Chronicles followed two young kids in Lowell, Massachusetts who were struggling with the death of their father and naturally ended up helping Santa Claus save Christmas. It presented precious little in the way of fresh ideas but it was bursting with Christmas joy and benefited greatly from the inspired casting of Kurt Russell as Santa Claus. For the sequel, Chris Columbus (the helmer of Home Alone and other classics) takes over the directing reins. It is a more lavish spectacle than the original, in large part because it shifts the action to the North Pole, which is brought to life with a lovely mix of top notch production design and CGI. Russell remains a delight as Santa and — in a purely perfect bit of casting — Goldie Hawn, Russell’s long-time partner and Oscar winning actress in her own right, plays Mrs. Claus. Her delightful performance serves as an urgent reminder that she has been gone from the screen for too long. Unfortunately, the film has a bit of a messy screenplay with an unsatisfying villain and a “kid struggles with their parent getting remarried” plot that is not only tired but also seems to bring out the most unlikeable aspects of all involved. Despite its imperfections, it is very entertaining and rivals Mariah Carey’s AppleTV Christmas special (reviewed below) as the most festive of this year’s new Christmas programs.
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (98 minutes; Netflix)
When Netflix announced that legendary singer-songwriter-actress-philanthropist Dolly Parton and the extraordinarily gifted Christine Baranski (whose TV and movie credits include Cybill, The Good Wife, The Birdcage, and Chicago) were teaming up for a Christmas musical directed by Tony- and Emmy-winning choreographer Debbie Allen, I literally squealed. I could not imagine a more joyous gift in this dreary year. Unfortunately, the film falls far short of the standards of all involved. The unoriginal and wholly predictable screenplay follows embittered, lonely rich woman Regina (Baranski) who decides to sell her wholesome Kansas hometown to developers, which requires her to evict all of the residents right before Christmas. She has a brush with death, repeated visits from an angel (Parton), and a reconnection with an old love (Treat Williams). And, well, it all plays out exactly as you would expect. Baranski is truly wonderful, as is Parton and co-star Jenifer Lewis, but the film has numerous problems. The film has way too much music, with the genuinely inspired numbers getting largely lost amidst the forgettable ones. The set design are garish and the whole production feels more on par with an average Hallmark movie as opposed to a Netflix film with major talent. The chemistry between the cast is lacking and no character other than Regina is sufficiently developed. It is innocuous and it certainly has its moments (particularly when Baranski gets savage or the film displays some campy self-awareness), but it was hard not to expect much more given the talent involved.
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
Happiest Season (102 minutes; Hulu)
2020 brought us the first real wave of Christmas programs with LGBTQ stories at their center, with both the Hallmark and Lifetime cable channels premiering Christmas movies centering on gay male couples. But the highest profile of them all is this romantic comedy centering on a lesbian couple that premiered on Hulu to huge buzz during Thanksgiving week. Directed and co-written by actress and filmmaker Clea DuVall (herself an out lesbian), the film tells the story of a young couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis) whose relationship is put to the test when they go to visit Harper’s family for Christmas. Harper only reveals to Abby on the drive there that she is not out to her parents yet and that she does not intend to come out until after the holidays. Harper’s family includes her conservative, image-obsessed parents (played by tremendously gifted veterans Mary Steenburgen and Victor Garber) and two sisters, odd duck Jane (an utterly delightful Mary Holland, who co-wrote the screenplay) and the insufferably cruel Sloane (Alison Brie). The film’s ensemble is undoubtedly its highlight with the entire cast giving committed and memorable performances. Of note, Schitt’s Creek co-creator and star Dan Levy also delivers a wonderful turn as Abby’s best friend. The screenplay, which was the subject of much debate on social media among those who found certain characters irredeemable and the ending frustrating, is overall a success in my estimation. But it certainly has some uneven and problematic elements. Happiest Season is unlikely to enter the pantheon of great Christmas movies, but it is charming, clever, well-acted, funny, and a major step forward in terms of on-screen representation.
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄 🎄
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (124 minutes; Netflix)
The biggest surprise of the Christmas season for me is this extraordinary musical that quietly debuted on Netflix last month. Directed and written by David E. Talbert, Jingle Jangle is a fresh and fully realized production that tells a heartwarming story and manages to balance spectacular musical numbers, heavy fantasy elements, and believable and engaging character dynamics. Narrated by the iconic Phylicia Rashad, the story centers on Jeronicus Jangle, a young inventor whose brilliant work is stolen by his apprentice, setting off decades of heartbreak and withdrawal from society. The film flashes forward to find Jeronicus (Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker) an aging man facing eviction from his workshop and getting an unexpected visit from his granddaughter Journey (Madalen Mills). Naturally she helps him rediscover love and reclaim his inspiration. The cast is uniformly excellent, with top marks going to Whitaker, Anika Noni Rose (who plays Jeronicus’s daughter), and Keegan-Michael Key (who plays Jeronicus’s nemesis as an adult). The musical numbers are absolutely sensational, with memorable music and stunning choreography that evoke The Greatest Showman (but much, much better). The film looks spectacular, with production and costume design that make the film feel like a much larger production than it is and create a genuinely unique and memorable universe. And Talbert maintains the perfect tone, never letting things to too far into fantasy, sentimentality, or predictability. The film isn’t perfect; it is a bit too long and there are certain elements of the screenplay that feel particularly cheesy and convoluted. But it is a masterful achievement that marks an exciting, memorable, and fresh entry in the Christmas movie genre. It also centers black actors and behind-the-scenes creatives, a rarity among Christmas movies. This is a perfect example to use when anyone questions the premise that increased diversity can lead to better art.
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄🎄 🎄
ANIMATED SPECIALS
Bugs Bunny’s 24 Carrot Holiday Special (28 minutes; HBO Max)
For those who don’t know, HBO and its parent company Warner Bros. launched a new streaming service earlier this year called HBOMax. With the recent proliferation of streaming services, it has become clear that two good ways to attract subscribers are to highlight well-established brands and hook children. HBOMax did both by reviving Looney Tunes. They created a holiday special that brings back nearly all the beloved characters in brief holiday-themed shorts. No new ground is broken, with all the familiar dynamics present. Bugs Bunny outsmarts Elmer Fudd, Tweety Bird outsmarts Sylvester, the Roadrunner outsmarts Wile E. Coyote, and Daffy, Porky, and Taz get into wild antics. It’s all amusing and entertaining enough, but there is a notable lack of heart or passion and the trademark slapstick violence feels like an odd fit for the season.
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄 🎄
The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special (48 minutes; Disney+)
The one animated special from this year that is genuinely creative and well-executed, The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special takes full advantage of the opportunities provided by the collaboration between Star Wars and LEGO. Although it officially takes place in-universe (it is set after the events of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker and follows the main characters), it is allowed to be very irreverent and to stretch the bounds of reality (or, at least, the reality that exists in this fictional galaxy far, far away). The story follows Rey as she struggles to train Finn in the ways of the Jedi. She goes on a journey to learn how to be a better teacher and finds a portal that allows her to travel throughout space and time. This allows her to observe and interact with classic characters from the Star Wars universe like Darth Vader, Han Solo, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. And all of this occurs against the backdrop of Poe enthusiastically arranging a Life Day celebration, which ties the special into the notorious 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special. (Click here to read my tongue-in-cheek review of that beautiful disaster.) Virtually every scene is bursting at the seams with clever humor and easter eggs for fans. It verges on manic at times and it doesn’t feel particularly Christmas-y, but it is clever, entertaining, and has a clear vision and purpose that it fully commits to.
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄 🎄
Minions Holiday Special (21 minutes; Hulu)
The Minions started off as supporting characters in the blockbuster Despicable Me films and have now essentially become the official mascot of Universal. So naturally, Universal commissioned a new holiday special, which aired on NBC (which Universal owns) and now is available to stream on Hulu. Compared to the Looney Tunes special reviewed above, this one feels even more uninspired and less Christmas-y. Only one of the shorts is even tied to the holidays and they all substitute chaos for charm. This one is strictly for the kiddos (and perhaps the stoners).
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄
MUSIC SPECIALS
A Holly Dolly Christmas (42 minutes; CBS/CBS All Access)
If for some reason you can watch only one of Dolly Parton’s two high-profile Christmas offerings this year, this one is the better bet. The special, which aired on CBS and is available on their streaming service, is a promotional tie-in to her new holiday album. Like the album, the special is far from the music legend’s best work. However, Dolly Parton can never truly disappoint. Despite being in her 70s, she remains a captivating and talented singer and she is perhaps even better when telling stories, cracking jokes, or getting teary-eyed recounting her own Christmas memories. It is unabashedly sentimental (she performs Coat of Many Colors for crying out loud!) and the production is decidedly minimalist (which she claims during the special is due to COVID), but it is entertaining and heartwarming. It also serves as a reminder of Dolly Parton’s tremendous talent and charisma.
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special (44 minutes; AppleTV)
Love her or hate her, like it or not, Mariah Carey is the undisputed Queen of Christmas. She has already delivered two classic holiday albums and two terrific holiday specials (the ABC concert Merry Christmas To You, which is currently unavailable for streaming, and Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas, currently streaming on Netflix). But her third is her best. Co-directed by Roman Coppola (the son of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and an Oscar nominee in his own right) and Hamish Hamilton (whose credits include directing the Super Bowl Halftime Show for the past decade), this glitzy extravaganza has it all — humor, mega-stars, heart, gorgeous set pieces, and memorable music. The (admittedly and intentionally) loose set-up involves Santa’s helper (played amusingly by Billy Eichner) contacting Mariah and asking her to come to the North Pole to help raise Christmas spirit. She hops on her sleigh (while performing a spirited, brand new rendition of the classic Christmas tune “Sleigh Ride,” of course) and comes to the rescue. Mariah looks stunning (if a tad scandalously cleavage-baring at times) and her re-recordings of all of her Christmas songs feature fresh arrangements and leave little doubt that even though her voice has changed over time, her extraordinary instrument remains intact. The special is narrated by red-hot comedian Tiffany Hadish; includes performances from extraordinary singers Arian Grande and Jennifer Hudson, rappers Snoop Dogg and Jermaine Dupri, and dancer Misty Copeland; and even features cameos from Bette Midler, Heidi Klum, and Millie Bobby Brown. Although one’s appreciation of the special will likely be predicated on their feelings on Mariah, this Mariah fan found it to be even more inspired, lavish, entertaining, funny, and charming than I had hoped.
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
My Gift: A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood (54 minutes; HBOMax)
Like Dolly Parton’s Christmas special (reviewed above), Carrie Underwood’s is a relatively minimalist hybrid of concert and heartwarming anecdotes that serves as a promotional tie-in to her recently released holiday album. The similarities to Dolly’s special end there, however. Although Carrie Underwood is a stunning vocalist and the sets, costumes, and orchestration are impeccable, there is a distinct lack of personality and joy. Even when we see her with her son and hear from her mom, it feels surprisingly bland. Similarly to the album which the special is promoting, it is a somber affair that feels like it was designed to appeal to 1990s adult Christian radio. It is pleasant enough — and it looks and sounds absolutely beautiful — but unfortunately the special does not show off the best of Carrie’s songs or paint her as a very engaging personality. The only time the special really came alive for me was when she performed the soulful and uptempo “Something in the Water,” which isn’t even from her new album (and isn’t even a Christmas song).
Quality Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Christmas Spirit Rating: 🎄 🎄 🎄
Well, folks, there you have it. For me, none of the new Christmas offerings were a total waste of time, but only two — Jingle Jangle and Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special — are ones I expect to revisit in the future. All of them, however, provide distraction, entertainment, joy, and hope for viewers in a year when most of us need it more than ever.
