🔗 Share this article Binge-Watching This Year's Festive Features: The Good, The Bad and The So-Bad-It's-Good. ‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the couch and consume a tin of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. As always, a selection of new seasonal stories hopes to be part of our holiday traditions—potentially even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Thus, in a noble effort to separate the winners from the losers, and to embrace the Christmas spirit, I watched as many fresh Christmas films as possible in a single day. First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick Beginning, optimistically, on a high. This release is the only 2025 title on a well-known aggregator's list of the best 100 festive features of all time. The Jonas Brothers end up trapped in the UK after concluding their world tour and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an villainous Saint Nick, who sings to announce they won’t get home until they “find their sibling bond.” The banter between the bickering brothers is amusing even for the non-fan, while followers will no doubt notice lots of easter eggs as they endeavor to get back using any means of transport necessary. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is great for devotees and a good start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who will have to sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a celebrity roped into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “hard-to-work-with” and ageing action hero Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose representative has deceived him into thinking he’s starring in renowned British drama. His pantomime cast-mates let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he protests. One can imagine their retort. Unless you’re not acquainted with traditional panto catchphrases. There are some hilarious moments, some touching storylines, and the rest of the cast is excellent, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit tacky at a different time, but is a lot of fun at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma Danny Dyer shows up at the outset of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Could this be a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who encounters Mr Sood, the latest spin on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Mr Sood is played by The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative progresses as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the apparitions of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This cultural adaptation is at least distinct from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s acting is lifeless—a problem when he’s so the main character. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed Before lunch for a major broadcaster's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he gets an large festive windfall at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) convinces him splurging the cash on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he learns there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to pay back the remainder. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its main point—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same. High-powered businesswoman Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a French chateau to secure an acquisition for a champagne business. En route, she encounters a fellow in a book store who promises to show her Christmas in Paris. A commentator recently claimed this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a Christmas romance with a touch of class and gives the obligatory warm and fuzzy feels. The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Young Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, despite the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is somewhere, and Chris sets out to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known figures. It’s low-key but endearing, and perfect viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a dysfunctional American family who reunite for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer starts by mentioning holiday staples like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before declaring: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in execution it’s really a combination of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new addition in the packed genre of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and strangely compelling—seasonal comfort food. It’s a narrative as familiar as can be: An American woman journeys to a distant snowy land and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher
‘Tis the time of year to slob out on the couch and consume a tin of festive treats in front of a great film, a bad movie, or one that’s terrible yet terrific. As always, a selection of new seasonal stories hopes to be part of our holiday traditions—potentially even earning a place alongside beloved favorites like Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, and Die Hard (don’t start). Thus, in a noble effort to separate the winners from the losers, and to embrace the Christmas spirit, I watched as many fresh Christmas films as possible in a single day. First Up: The Jonas Brothers' Holiday Flick Beginning, optimistically, on a high. This release is the only 2025 title on a well-known aggregator's list of the best 100 festive features of all time. The Jonas Brothers end up trapped in the UK after concluding their world tour and must make it back for Christmas. Their efforts are hindered by an villainous Saint Nick, who sings to announce they won’t get home until they “find their sibling bond.” The banter between the bickering brothers is amusing even for the non-fan, while followers will no doubt notice lots of easter eggs as they endeavor to get back using any means of transport necessary. It’s a travelogue of mishaps. It’s not a timeless masterpiece, but is great for devotees and a good start to the day. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 for Jonas Brothers fans or 🎄🎄🎄 for their loved ones who will have to sit through it. Late Morning: Tinsel Town Famous performer Kiefer Sutherland has been cast as a celebrity roped into a traditional British stage show. “A panto-what?” asks Sutherland’s “hard-to-work-with” and ageing action hero Brad Mack, who has fallen on hard times and whose representative has deceived him into thinking he’s starring in renowned British drama. His pantomime cast-mates let him know he’s playing Buttons. “Absolutely not,” he protests. One can imagine their retort. Unless you’re not acquainted with traditional panto catchphrases. There are some hilarious moments, some touching storylines, and the rest of the cast is excellent, too. It’s the type of film that would be a bit tacky at a different time, but is a lot of fun at Christmas. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄🎄 Mid-Morning: Christmas Karma Danny Dyer shows up at the outset of this film, too, insulting someone for the second consecutive movie. Could this be a fresh holiday staple? This time, he’s a musical taxi operator who encounters Mr Sood, the latest spin on Mr Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Mr Sood is played by The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar and Christmas Karma is directed by the filmmaker behind Gurinder Chadha. The classic narrative progresses as the tight-fisted Mr Sood is haunted by the apparitions of Christmas yesterday, today, and tomorrow, played by Hugh Bonneville, Billy Porter, and Boy George. This cultural adaptation is at least distinct from all the others, but regrettably he’s not very compelling and Nayyar’s acting is lifeless—a problem when he’s so the main character. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 12.04pm - Stuffed Before lunch for a major broadcaster's holiday special—which stars Guz Khan as a lovably grouchy guy who “isn't big on Christmas.” But after he gets an large festive windfall at work, his wife (played by Morgana Robinson) convinces him splurging the cash on a holiday to Lapland. There’s just one issue—he learns there was an error with his bonus, which should have been £800, and he has to determine how to pay back the remainder. Fun while it lasts but not lasting. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄 A Classy Netflix Romance This is one of those Christmas films where the decorations and snow are in the backdrop—Christmas is the scene of the film rather than its main point—but it feels comfortable and seasonal all the same. High-powered businesswoman Sydney (starring Minka Kelly) is dispatched to a French chateau to secure an acquisition for a champagne business. En route, she encounters a fellow in a book store who promises to show her Christmas in Paris. A commentator recently claimed this is the best new Christmas film of the last several seasons. That’s a bit of a overstatement, but it is a Christmas romance with a touch of class and gives the obligatory warm and fuzzy feels. The scene with a extended debate about Die Hard is particularly strong too. Holiday verdict: 🎄🎄🎄 3.29pm - Finding Father Christmas Young Chris, played by Lenny Rush, continues to believe in Father Christmas, despite the persuasion of his dad (played by James Buckley) to tell him the truth. The secret is somewhere, and Chris sets out to find it with the guidance of a group of well-known figures. It’s low-key but endearing, and perfect viewing while expecting Santa to visit. Festive score: 🎄🎄🎄 Late Afternoon: Oh. What. Fun. Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a dysfunctional American family who reunite for the holidays—including other Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman, and dad Denis Leary. Pfeiffer starts by mentioning holiday staples like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s A Wonderful Life and Home Alone, before declaring: “They need to make a movie about the real champions of the holidays—moms.” So that’s the concept, but in execution it’s really a combination of those forerunner films, at least until Pfeiffer’s character finally comes into her own. Christmas tree rating: 🎄🎄 Formulaic Fun The day’s taken a dip, but happily here’s a new addition in the packed genre of cliched, saccharine, over-the-top—and strangely compelling—seasonal comfort food. It’s a narrative as familiar as can be: An American woman journeys to a distant snowy land and ends up discovering romance. In this case, Caprice Bourret plays a publisher