Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Predictable romance in pretty setting; some drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Castle for Christmas
What's the Story?
Best-selling author Sophie Brown (Brooke Shields) has angered her readers by killing off a beloved character at the start of A CASTLE FOR CHRISTMAS. She decides to take a break and escape to Scotland to see the castle where her father grew up as a member of the groundskeeping family. When she finds out the castle is for sale, she decides to buy it. But the owner, a gruff yet handsome duke (Cary Elwes), is hoping to talk her out of it and remain in the castle himself. He negotiates a deal for the two to share the castle with the idea to make her so miserable she'll leave. He doesn't count on falling in love.
Is It Any Good?
With all the hallmarks of, well, a Hallmark movie, this Scottish-set romance stumbles --despite likable characters -- because of a predictable story and some typecasting. Viewers of a certain age might be curious about A Castle for Christmas thanks to the pairing of stars Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes. Attractive and charismatic, they both do their best with the material, and some of their flirtatious sparring is cute. But Elwes in particular is straddled with a poorly-developed character and a laborious accent. Why the production put two England-born Brits in the lead male roles as Scots, with one of them wearing kilts even as he does house chores, is anyone's guess.
Be warned, Scottish viewers: you are once again depicted as merry, folk-dancing, whiskey-drinking, plaid-wearing pub-dwellers. Meanwhile, the arrival of the wealthy American who will bring this village and its castle back to life is played entirely straight. The Christmas timing is also gratuitous. There's a scene where two characters checking into the inn are given lingering attention. Why? Were they written out of the final film but their intro left in? It's confusing. Still, there's something refreshing about a silver screen romance starring late middle-aged actors, and the film's locations and folksy music are appealing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about A Castle for Christmas's setting in Scotland, where a character suggests there are more than 3,000 castles. Where could you go for more information about these structures?
Sophie Brown is attacked by fans of her novels for killing off a beloved character. Can you think of a real-life writer, musician, or filmmaker who has suffered a similar backlash for a creative decision? How did they handle it? Did it eventually blow over?
Look up the film's stars, Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes, if you don't already know them. What are they best known for? Have they ever worked together before?
Would this film have changed significantly if it had been set during a different time of the year than Christmas? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 26, 2021
- Cast : Brooke Shields , Cary Elwes , Lee Ross
- Director : Mary Lambert
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Holidays
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate