What a delightful movie! I’d summarise it as the child-friendly version of Love Actually, where relationships intertwine in a beautiful and rich tapestry of friendship, love, and community.
From the new kid in town to the teacher who taught everyone, from the lighthouse man’s mother to the cheeky toddler, this movie offers a small yet meaningful glimpse into the personalities and realities of everyday life. Having a plan doesn’t always guarantee success in That Christmas — in fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Set in the days leading up to Christmas in the charming, fictional seaside town of Wellington-on-Sea, the story begins when a fierce snowstorm blows in and turns everyone’s holiday plans upside down. Young Danny (Jack Wisniewski) is feeling particularly low — his dad is snowed in far away, his mum is stuck at work, and even his crush, Sam (Zazie Hayhurst), barely knows he exists. Sam, meanwhile, has worries of her own: her mischievous twin sister, Charlie (Sienna Sayer), has been so naughty this year that she’s convinced Santa will skip her entirely.
When a group of parents heads off to a wedding just before the blizzard peaks, they leave the children under the reluctant leadership of local rule-breaker Bernie (India Brown). But once the storm traps the parents on the road, Bernie seizes the moment and decides this Christmas should be the most unforgettable one yet — with or without grown-ups.
Just as the parents finally make it back into town, panic sets in: Bernie’s younger sister has gone missing. What follows is a heartfelt scramble as the whole community bands together to search the snow-covered streets. She’s eventually found safe and sound in a cosy beach hut — keeping company with a few runaway turkeys, no less.
In the end, Wellington-on-Sea pulls through the chaos with warmth, laughter, and a newfound closeness, proving that even the stormiest Christmas can become a treasured memory.
From keeping animals in cages to holding a wedding on Christmas Eve, the movie gives parents plenty of subjects — of varying intensities — to discuss with their children if they wish.
On the flip side, the art direction has a familiar feel, which is always nice, but nothing extraordinary like Klaus or even slightly new. This is mostly due to the overuse of this animation style by companies relying on artificial intelligence instead of hiring real illustrators and artists.
We know how powerful stories can be, especially for children as they identify with characters and form their sense of self. So we always look at the messages they’re teaching us, particularly those involving stereotypes. The movie handles its female characters beautifully, but I’m afraid it doesn’t achieve the same balance for the male ones. While Danny, Bill the lighthouse keeper, and Santa are warmly crafted as sensitive yet strong figures, the adult male characters overall aren’t the best examples to look up to. Mr McNutt is the stereotypical well-meaning but clumsy dad with few good ideas. Mr Forrest is passive and complains most of the time. Another boy is portrayed as clumsy, even hitting himself with a door. The farmer is mean and greedy, and Danny’s dad is absent after the divorce. No female characters are depicted as distant or foolish, so the imbalance stands out.
Still, it’s a fantastic movie families will enjoy watching. It can be a light, cosy watch or an engaging starting point for important conversations about love, friendship, loss, and community.
Oh! And it features an Ed Sheeran song too!
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image 'That Christmas' Courtesy of Locksmith Animation via The Hollywood Reporter
If you have any concerns about triggers, please check the Children & Media Australia classification for a more technical review: https://childrenandmedia.org.au/movie-reviews/movies/that-christmas
