Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Funny, feel-good tale makes the holiday merry for families.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this holiday special from the Good Luck Charlie crew is an entertaining watch for just about anyone, but it's best appreciated by fans of the show who are already familiar with the characters' idiosyncrasies. The story steers the focus away from the commercial aspects of Christmas and toward the emotional fulfillment that comes with spending quality time with loved ones. Expect some true-to-life bickering among family members as the stresses of the holidays mount, but it's all tempered by unlikely scenarios, a hefty dose of humor, and a round of happy outcomes. This laugh-out-loud movie is a jolly addition to the holiday TV season and definitely worth considering for your family.

  • The movie is definitely intended more for entertainment than for education, but there are some notable moments between a teen and her mother when they learn to see things from each other's point of view and come to appreciate each other more for it.
  • The Duncan family finds security and love in one another, and their quest to be together takes the emphasis off the commercial side of the holiday. Teddy and Amy make the best of a challenging situation and use the experience to improve their relationship, and they discover there's joy to be found in helping others, even at your own expense. At different times, the story celebrates forgiveness, kindness, generosity, and compassion. Family bickering is plentiful but is offset by comedy.
  • Bob and Amy love their kids and strive to do what's best for them, even when it's not what the kids feel is right. Both Amy and Teddy show a willingness to change for the sake of their relationship, and it makes each appreciate the other more.
  • A boy's video games feature gunfire exchanges. Perilous situations like careening down a hill in a car without brakes and being held hostage are more comical than fearful, as is a competitive paintball game. There's some play fighting between a mom and a teen, but it's clearly intended to be funny rather than harmful.

What's the story?

It's days before Christmas, and the Duncan family is prepping for a trip to sunny Palm Springs to spend the holiday with Amy's (Leigh-Allyn Baker) parents. Emotions and anxiety run high as Amy tries to come to terms with the breaking of traditions, Bob (Eric Allan Kramer) declares war on a troublesome bargain item meant to simplify traveling with young Charlie (Mia Talerico), and Teddy (Bridgit Mendler) pleads her case for an unchaperoned cross-country trip over spring break. In an attempt to prove her independence, Teddy offers up her seat on the plane to score a free ticket for the later trip, and Amy reluctantly follows suit to make sure she's all right. The move sets in motion a series of mishaps that seems bound to keep the family apart at Christmas, but Amy and Teddy manage to creep westward by bus, car, and the kindness of strangers to reunite with their loved ones. Meanwhile, Bob, Charlie, and the boys try to keep the peace with the in-laws until the girls show up, but even that might require a Christmas miracle.


Is it any good?

 

Good Luck Charlie fans have reason to celebrate this holiday special, which hones in on the most appealing aspects of the popular sitcom and glams them up for the festivities. Amy's frazzled nerves, Bob's fumbling efforts to hold things together, and the kids' determination to chart their own courses are the catalyst for the movie's plentiful funny moments ... and that's not even counting the impish toddler who throws their lives into turmoil at every turn. In other words, there's no shortage of laughs in this merry movie that will appeal to parents almost as much as it does their kids.
 

Happily, there's also a heartier side to the story, one that reflects what parents (if not their offspring) hold dear through the holidays. This is a kid-targeted movie that spends two anticipatory hours building up to Christmas but makes no references to gifts, stockings, or even Santa. Instead, the focus is on the family, and rather than fighting crowds for the must-have toys of the year, these family members are racing the clock just to spend time with their loved ones. Feel-good messages nestled within the movie's shiny packaging -- plus a few Christmas surprises -- make this one to add to your family's watch list. If nothing else, it's a great way to shed the stress of the season by getting some laughs at a different family's dysfunction.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about communication. How do you handle situations in which you don't see eye to eye with someone else? How does a difference of opinion cause stress between people? Is honesty always the best policy? How is this issue explored in the movie?

  • Tweens: What did you think of Teddy's request to travel cross-country without her parents? What freedoms do you enjoy now that you're older that you didn't when you were a kid? What responsibilities accompany this independence? What are the consequences if you don't fulfill your obligations?

  • What are your favorite parts of the holidays? How do your family's traditions reflect your ethnic heritage or faith? How does your family express the spirit of giving?


This review was written by Emily Ashby
Adult
December 1, 2011
 
a great show
we just finished watching this hilarious christmas movie it was just so mutch fun to spend christmas with the duncan family who are alot like own family the only concern i would give parents is there is some very mild comical violence but it is all in the good name of humor and there is also a good lesson about giving so i say see this wonderful family film ps. if you think you are to old for it think agin because i am a 22 year old man and i loved it

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Kid, 10 years old
December 2, 2011
 
Good Luck Charlie,It's Christmas!
Good Luck Charlie,It's Christmas! is a very big dissapointment. For Starters, the people who just watched it as a random holiday movie while flipping channels will have no idea what happened when the movie is over. But it is good for them because they have no idea how AMAZING this show is. I thought it would be my favorite movie but I guess I stand corrected. The Movie is filled with crazy elements and no scene where you actually laugh. Overall the movie's only great element is the sentiment. So Good Luck Charlie,It's Christmas! is an amazingly crazy elemented dissapointing movie. P.S. This Move Does Continue The Tradition Of Disney Channel's Adaptations Of Shows Being A Flop. For Example, Suite Life Movie,Phineas And Ferb Across The Second Dimension In Glorious 3-D

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Teen, 15 years old
December 3, 2011
 
Pregnant Again?
I think it's a bit questionable that after they go on vacation, she's pregnant. If you have a small kid he/she will probably ask "where babies come from". I know my little cousin did and i told him to ask his mommy. Plus, it may make your child want kids at an early age. And a lot of them. Good movie though. I guess.

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Teen, 14 years old
December 2, 2011
 
OK special
I saw this special and it was ok. It has a few sad moments, but nothing too bad for young kids. It's age-appropriate for most kids and has a good message about the importance of family. Violence: Some mild peril, but it's played for humor purposes only. Sex: Amy Duncan is revealed to be pregnant, but nothing graphic is shown or mentioned. Consumerism: Based off popular TV show, and the Smartphone and the TV show, "The Bachelor" are mentioned.

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Kid, 12 years old
December 11, 2011
 
Perfect for the Holidays
I love this movie because I love Good Luck Charlie! This movie has a lot of positive messages and it's great because it's all about the holidays and being with the family. If you pay close attention you'll see that this movie also has some "inappropriate" parts for anyone who is younger than eight. There is a part when Teddy finds out Amy is pregnant and she says "How did this happen?" and then Amy says "Well honey I;m sure you now how it happened, you saw the video in health class, I mean I did sign the permission slip." I was like OMG!! Anyway I don't think anyone will catch that :)

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Adult
December 20, 2011
 
Good Movie
Great movie!!!:) Thinking of buying it!!!:) Shows family bonding!!!:) Also shows true meaning of family!:) Some parts may be inappropriate for younger kids!:( Like Amy announcing she's having a baby! Which that is one of my most fav. parts!:) Only thing I'm confuse about is when she has the baby will Teddy just be filming Charlie or Charlie and the baby?

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Kid, 10 years old
December 16, 2011
 
Great movie!
ok well it was a great movie! Its about teddy go off the plae for palm springs for a free ticket and her mom come along. they find them selves lost ad trying to make it in time for Chirstmas. It was really a twist because The mom annoced she is having another baby. like no one saw that coming! but i actully things its gonna ruuin the show because its good luck CHARLIE not whatever the babys name is. but now its gonna be about another kid and not charlie. it kinda ruins the point but it was a good movie!

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Teen, 13 years old
January 1, 2012
 
Not The Best
I watch the show Good Luck Charlie, it's not my favorite show, but it's my favorite show on Disney Channel, well actually Jessie is. But, anyway, this movie was TERRIBLE. I wish that I could rate this higher, but I just can't. If I had to choose the worst part of the movie, it would be the paintball incident. This show is supposed to be for tweenagers, and maybe teens if they watch it, but the movie is out of the question babyish.

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Adult
May 27, 2012
 
AGE RESTRICTIONS!
Not really any bad reasons for concern!

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Kid, 10 years old
May 9, 2012
 
Not As Good As TV Show
This TV-Movie Is Not As Good As The TV Show,Nor It Is More Approperite Ethir. The Duncan Family Goes On A Christmas Vacation,But There Isn't Enogh Seats.So Teddy & Amy Get Off The Plane For 2 Tickets.But They Can't Just Get Home.Also,Amy Gets Prangnet.Sometimes Funny,And Surprisingly, Rude.

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This review was written by Emily Ashby
Topics:holidays
TV rating:TV-G
Network:Disney Channel
Cast:Bridgit Mendler, Jason Dolley, Leigh-Allyn Baker
Genre:Comedy

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
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