Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
British Christmas comedy has some language, sexual content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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Where to Watch
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Father Christmas Is Back
What's the Story?
In FATHER CHRISTMAS IS BACK, Caroline Christmas (Nathalie Cox) works hard to prepare the perfect Christmas for her extended family. But, as her mother, Elizabeth (Caroline Quentin), and three sisters (Elizabeth Hurley, Talulah Riley, Naomi Frederick) arrive at her country home, it's clear that their different personalities are causing more of an explosive spark than a festive sparkle. When her estranged father, James (Kelsey Grammer), arrives unexpectedly with his younger girlfriend, family Christmas starts to look very different to the one she had planned.
Is It Any Good?
A starry cast adds a little extra sparkle to what is otherwise fairly standard, though enjoyable, Christmas fare. Father Christmas Is Back has all the elements: a Nativity, carols in the pub, a local fair, as well as the arrival of unexpected guests, family tensions, and disasters that threaten to cancel Christmas. The actors -- both veteran and lesser known -- ham it up for full farce, but there are times when performances don't quite gel.
Quentin is reliably warm and funny as the family matriarch, and Grammer surprisingly brings more warmth than comedy as the misunderstood patriarch -- a particularly touching scene with his granddaughter adding much needed fuzzy feelings. Hurley does a solid job of poking fun at herself, playing a version of her media personality, and John Cleese channels years of experience as the slightly off-kilter country gent. While Cox goes full caricature in the central role, proving a little hit and miss within the tone of the movie as a whole. Stereotypes abound generally within the family and the Christmas setting, lacking the originality to temper the feeling that we've been here before, and many times at that. But it's an easy watch that will do little to offend and might just get you into the Christmas spirit.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the use of stereotypes in Father Christmas Is Back. What kinds of stereotypes can you spot? Do you think they serve a purpose? Why must we be careful of stereotyping people?
Talk about some of the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Talk about how sex was portrayed. Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Talk about how the movie presented drinking. Did you think the characters drank too much? Did their behavior seem realistic/believable? Were there consequences for what they did?
How did this film compare to other Christmas movies you might have seen? Other than the time of year, what makes a Christmas film?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 7, 2021
- Cast : Kelsey Grammer , Elizabeth Hurley , John Cleese
- Directors : Mick Davis , Philippe Martinez
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Holidays
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexually suggestive material and some language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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