Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dull, predictable holiday romance set on an alpaca farm.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
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Where to Watch
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Christmas on the Alpaca Farm
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Defying believability at every turn, CHRISTMAS ON THE ALPACA FARM suggests that an out-of-work "Christmas sweater" designer can win a big check and international distribution of her sustainable designs through a competition sponsored by a luxury department store. The big bucks will only come if she wins, which she must do in record time by designing the garments, shaving some alpacas, spinning the fleece into yarn, dyeing the yarn, knitting the new sweaters, and overnighting them to the competition's judges, all in the six weeks before the Christmas deadline. Those are just some of the unlikely labors Jess (Kirsten Comerford) must perform to launch her career in high fashion. To make it all happen, she needs the support of her supplier, Andrew (Matt Wells), a handsome, widowed alpaca farmer. And he only gets to keep his financially shaky farm if she wins the competition.
Is It Any Good?
First, aren't Christmas sweaters those deliberately ugly pullovers in green and red with reindeer and elves on them? Not here. Christmas on the Alpaca Farm is a sappy Christmas movie that places two fairly wooden actors in a fantasy world where Christmas sweaters, which look exactly like regular sweaters, supposedly fall into the "high fashion" category. Ai Barrett is sweet as a widowed alpaca farmer's young daughter. Apart from the alpacas, almost no one or nothing else here is either believable or interesting. Note that the sweaters in question are utterly basic and unremarkable design-wise, suggesting no one associated with this production had a clue about fashion, high or otherwise.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes a holiday movie enjoyable. This offers the usual format but feels dull and lackluster. Can you pinpoint some reasons why?
What did you learn about alpacas or sustainable fashion?
Jess has always wanted to be a Christmas designer. Do you have a dream you are working toward? Does Jess' drive inspire you?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 15, 2023
- Cast : Kirsten Comerford , Matt Wells , Samantha Espie
- Director : Michael Kennedy
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Queer Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studios : Netflix , Lifetime Television
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Animals ( Farm Animals ) , Family Stories , Holidays ( Christmas )
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 19, 2025
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