Kate Pierce is reviewing videos from Christmases past. Her father’s in all of them but he won’t be there this year, and the family’s taking it hard. Her older brother Teddy’s been acting out in dangerous ways and her mom is overworked and stressed out. When Kate’s mom (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) gets called in to work on Christmas Eve, she leaves the kids in a house that feels emptier than it should, but with a video that contains more than it has any right to. Just before a video cuts out, someone’s arm is seen placing a gift beneath their tree. Kate is ecstatic: proof of Santa, caught on tape! But the video is vague and an arm is not really enough, so she begs her brother to pull an all-nighter to collect more evidence.
Long story short, Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy (Judah Lewis) end up as stowaways on Santa’s sleigh, which causes a derailment (I don’t know the technical term for throwing a sleigh off its course while flying through the air), and a crash, and the loss of Santa’s magic sack of toys, and the temporary misplacement of the reindeer. Catastrophe! Santa (Kurt Russell, in absolute bearded glory) isn’t too happy on a whole lot of fronts, but he recognizes in Kate a true believer, so together they concoct a plan to save Christmas.
The Christmas Chronicles involves police chases, gang activity, Elvish, jingle bells, literal jail house rock, and an archive system to die for. And like any good Netflix original, it has a scene of someone watching some other Netflix original. But mostly it has Kurt Russell, who brings everything to the role. Like me, you may be a little bit squeamish about our dear Kurt Russell playing Santa. Is it really the time in his career for this? Worry not. This is not the rosy-cheeked, elderly Santa that Coca Cola is pimping (in fact, this Russell’s Santa is particularly peeved by that depiction). Russell’s Santa is a little cooler, a little leaner, but he’s still 100% magic, and that’s what counts.
Here in Ottawa, we’ve already had frostbite warning and record snowfall, and it isn’t even winter. What we need on cold nights such is these are great holiday movies to warm and soothe our souls. And while this one isn’t an instant classic, it’s a pretty decent entry into the catalogue.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
I watched the trailer for this the other night when it showed up on Netflix. Thought it looked entertaining, so I’m glad to read it’s worthwhile.
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Difficult not to want to see Kurt Russel as Santa!
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Hot Santa!
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This looks really good. I am sure e family will be watching this during the holidays. Plus, Kurt as Santa sounds amazing. Great review.
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I just saw this last night, and it was better than I expected. You could tell this was one of those holiday movies where they actually tried, and it shows.
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Yeah, he was so much fun in the role, I just wanted more of him!
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I’m already watching this for my long-time Kurt Russell love. Glad to know its fun 🙂
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Oh yeah you’ll get a kick or two out of this
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Lol. Looks like so many of us are long-time Kurt Russell fans. I’ve been crushing on him since his Disney days! This sounds like a lot of fun, like he’s brought maybe a little “Escape from New York” attitude to Santa? Just a touch? This reminds me of Elf, another one of my favorite holidays flicks, with Will Ferrell and the brilliant and inspired casting of James Caan. O…m….g. Can’t stop laughing.
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You may recognize some other roles in there as well!
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Sounds like reason #387 why I should finally succumb and get Netflix.
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It’s hard not to!
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I think the technical term is “desleighment “!
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Thank you!
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Sold! Nice description of Kurt.
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Loved this movie! X!
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Our Florida Santa!
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Wishing you and yours the best joyful and wholesome fulfillments for the new year. Cheers!
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