
Father Christmas Is Back
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
British Christmas comedy has some language, sexual content.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Father Christmas Is Back
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Disappointed
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 actors
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Holidays
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- Run time: 105 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sexually suggestive material and some language
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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