Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Myers
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Holiday-themed musical is both gloomy and heartwarming.
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Why Age 8+?
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Buttons: A Christmas Tale
What's the Story?
In BUTTONS: A CHRISTMAS TALE, guardian angel Rose (Angela Lansbury) goes to visit an orphan named Emily (Noelle E. Parker) who's sick in the hospital. Rose reads her a story about about a little girl named Annabelle, aka Buttons (Alivia Clark). Her loving parents pray to God to send an angel to watch over Annabelle when she has scarlet fever as an infant. Her guardian angel (Dick Van Dyke) appears from time to time when Annabelle is sad and unhappy, and she grows up believing in angels, miracles, fairy tales, and all things magical. When Annabelle is 10, she and her mother learn that her father (Ioan Gruffudd), a ship captain, has been lost at sea and is presumed dead. After that, Annabelle no longer believes in magic -- or hope of any kind. Annabelle's now-impoverished mother is forced by her resentful stepsister to work in a textile mill to make ends meet. The harsh conditions there lead to her death, leaving Annabelle an orphan. Forced to work in the mill by her aunt, Annabelle is treated cruelly by the other girls and soon escapes to try to make it on her own. She finds herself alone, hungry, and cold at Christmas time. Annabelle's guardian angel is still nearby, but she doesn't recognize him. With the mill boss out to find her, Annabelle must keep running. Ultimately, the only place she can turn to for safety is the church, and she must decide whether she'll start believing again.
Is It Any Good?
This tearjerker of a holiday film is pretty gloomy, but it does have some sweet moments. It's a bit of a cross between any Dickens novel, the Cinderella fairy tale, and Annie. The title of the film -- Buttons: A Christmas Tale -- is a bit of a misnomer, as Annabelle is only called Buttons once in the film and then never referred to that way again. And although a good portion of the film is not set during Christmas, its overall message of belief, hope, and guardian angels makes it somewhat Christmassy.
Parts of the film are a bit predictable, but there are also a few unexpected surprises. And the sad/depressing parts are somewhat counterbalanced by heartwarming scenes, including the movie's musical numbers. Sure, they're a little cheesy at times, but they have a decent message. Bottom line? Keep your tissues handy, but thanks to the cheerier moments and the all-star cast, this may make a nice addition to your holiday viewing collection.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Buttons: A Christmas Tale explores the relationship between people, belief, and prayer. What is the film saying about belief? How does believing (or not believing) in magic/miracles change the characters' outlook? Do you consider this a faith-based film?
The film talks about magic, miracles, and fairy tales. Is there a distinction between them? How does the film go about showing these things?
Who do you think the film's target audience is? How can you tell?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 8, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : November 19, 2019
- Cast : Dick Van Dyke , Angela Lansbury , Ioan Gruffudd , Jane Seymour , Alivia Clark
- Director : Tim Janis
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Holidays
- Run time : 115 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic elements
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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