That Christmasis a great new original animated Christmas movie streaming on Netflix, but is the film appropriate for children to watch with their parents?That Christmaschronicles the interconnected lives of a large cast of characters as they reconnect with family and friends and deal with love and loneliness over the holiday season.The voice cast ofThat Christmasis led by Brian Cox as Santa Claus, with such iconic actors as Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy in supporting roles.
The well-reviewedThat Christmasmarks Richard Curtis’ long-awaited return to the Christmas movie genre — based on his children’s book trilogy of the same name — after he wrote and directed the classicLove Actually. While both films revolve around a sprawling ensemble of characters whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways,That Christmasis far less raunchy thanLove Actually. As an animated adventure featuring Santa and a legion of turkeys, it’s much more family-friendly than Curtis’ last holiday movie. But just how family-friendly is it? Is it suitable for young kids?
Netflix’s That Christmas Is Rated PG For Thematic Elements, Some Language & Rude Humor
That Christmas Has One Particularly Intense Storyline
That Christmashas been rated PG by the MPA for thematic elements, some language, and a bit of rude humor. For the most part,That Christmasis a family-friendly film that doesn’t feature much content that would be inappropriate for young children. It hasno violence, no scenes of a sexual nature, and no use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. The only profanity used from the beginning tothe end ofThat Christmasis the word “hell.”
That Christmasis the directorial debut of Simon Otto, who worked as the Head of Character Animation on theHow to Train Your Dragontrilogy.
Without wanting to spoil the movie, there is one subplot that might be too intense for some young viewers. There’s a scene thatleads the audience to believe that a child has been washed out to sea. Later, it’s insinuated that the child wasn’t really swept out to sea, and later than that, the audience is once again led to believe the child has been washed away. This back-and-forth can be distressing for some viewers, andthe concept of being washed away to sea can be quite scary.
That Christmas Might Not Be Suitable For Young Children
That Christmas Deals With The Theme Of Death
Despite being rated PG, it’s possible thatThat Christmasis unsuitable for some young viewers.It deals heavily with the theme of death and dying, which can be quite heavy for a young viewerwho hasn’t fully grasped the concept of mortality and might find it upsetting.The characters include a widow and an absent parent, both of which can be complicated dramatic subjects for young kids to handle.
That Christmas
Cast
That Christmas, directed by Simon Otto, weaves a series of interconnected stories exploring themes of love, loneliness, and family. The narrative unfolds with Santa Claus making a significant error, amidst a backdrop of numerous turkeys, capturing the essence of holiday spirit and relationships.
