THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES
US, 2018, 104 minutes, Colour.
Kurt Russell, Judah Lewis, Derby Camp, Oliver Hudson, Martin Roach.
Directed by Clay Kaytis.
The Christmas Chronicles is a film for the whole family. It is very much the American spirit of Christmas, goodwill and gifts, Christmas trees and elaborate decorations.
The film starts realistically with the presentation of a family, the videos of their Christmas celebrations for 12 years, the death of the father helping to save a life. Teddy, the older boy, is now in his mid teens, unhappy with the death of his father, going out, joining a gang and stealing a car. His younger sister, Kate, has a firm belief in Santa and does a video requesting a gift. Looking at the old videos she thinks she sees Santa's arm in one of them – which leads them to go outside to look for Santa, finding him, Kate getting into the sleigh for further filming, Teddy rep going to rescue her, a wild ride through the sky, Santa losing his hat as well is the bag of gifts.
Much of the action takes place in Chicago as Santa and the children try to find the sleigh and the reindeer. However, because of the car Chase, Santa is arrested and put in jail. The children do find the Hat and the gifts, not without some difficulties, put upon by thugs – but the little girl has gone to the North Pole, informed the elves, and they come to the rescue. Meanwhile Santa has given gifts to all those in the jail and performed a rock ‘n’ roll Christmas song.
Needless to say, Christmas is rescued with the distribution of the gifts.
Kurt Russell is a tough and genial Santa. Judah Lewis is the boy. Derby Camp the little girl. And Goldie Hawn turns up at the end as Mrs Clause. (Her son, Oliver Hudson, portrays the children’s father.)
And this led, of course, to a sequel.
1. A popular Christmas story? Santa Claus story? Spirit of Christmas – goodwill and gifts?
2. Beginning realistically, the family, the video record of Christmases for 12 years? Parents and loving, the two children growing? The death of the father, self-sacrifice? The effect on his wife, on the children?
3. Teddy and Kate, their ages, the past, the clashes, Kate and the video for Santa, Teddy and his scorn, going out, Kate following, stealing the car, her filming it, using it against him? Their mother, called out to the hospital on Christmas Eve? Kate looking at the video, seeing Santa's arm? The curiosity, the going outside?
4. The tradition transition to fantasy, Centre going from chimney to chimney, the sleigh, the reindeer? Kate climbing to film, into the sleigh? Teddy going to the rescue? Flying through the air, Santa and his surprise, losing his hat, losing the bag of presence, the crash in Chicago?
5. The effect on Kate and Teddy? The personality of Santa Claus, no co-who, not wanting to seem fat, the posters? His chatting, his work, behind time, searching Chicago for the sleigh and the reindeers?
6. Going to the pub, the nice chat with Wendy, the appeal to the people for a lift, everybody turning away, phoning the police, the barman and his being in jail, having stopped in the car, Teddy getting the car, Santa and the driving, getting Kate to find the reindeer, the police Chase, Teddy going in search with the mechanism to find the gifts in the Hat, the encounter with the police, knowing them personally?
7. Santa arrested, his arguments, knowing all about the officer, urging him to phone his ex-wife, the group in the cell, musicians, the prostitutes, getting them the instruments, the rock ‘n’ roll song and Santa performing? The phone call for the policeman, everybody joining in the song? Santa released? The arrival of the elves?
8. Kate, the search, finding the reindeer, getting them together, writing them, Teddy finding them, his also riding, going into the air? Landing to search for the bag of presence, Kate going in, disappearing, the thugs, taking the bag, the elves arriving, throwing the thugs out of the building?
9. Kate, going to the North Pole, meeting the elves, explaining the situation, the joining together, fixing the sleigh, going to the prison, welcoming Santa?
10. Everything fixed, Santa and the timetable, Kate and Teddy helping with the distribution of the gifts and the addresses? Mission accomplished, getting them home, their mother arriving?
11. Santa going home, Mrs clause and her arrival?
12. The gifts of the tree, Teddy and the Golden Ball, on the tree, the reflection of his father and his father’s message?
13. A film for the family audience?
