Common Sense Media Review
By Marina Gordon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Queen of Christmas brings glamour to a muted holiday season.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special
What's the Story?
Settled into a leather armchair with a wool blanket hanging over the back, Tiffany Hadish narrates the story of MARIAH CAREY'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL in a variation on "The Night Before Christmas" that begins with an oblique reference to unfestive 2020. "Holiday spirit was low. Few could muster any holiday cheer." Enter "ultimate VIP" Mariah Carey, who gets a red-alert call on her special red crystal-encrusted iPhone from Santa's secretary, Billy Eichner (who can't really be doing Billy on the Street in 2020). She mounts a sleigh to the North Pole, where she sings many of her holiday hits remixed for the special. Along the way she sings with Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, and the Peanuts gang. But will she generate enough Christmas spirit to light Santa's way around the world? Spoiler: Nothing puts the kibosh on Christmas spirit when Carey's around!
Is It Any Good?
The Queen of Christmas delivers exactly what Mariah Carey fans want in for the holidays: 11 familiar songs, seven-plus costume changes, and whistle tones that could shatter glass. The gossamer-thin story of Santa (whom we don't see) relying on Carey to generate Christmas spirit sounds a lot like the Elf plot, but the pleasure of seeing Billy Eichner (as Santa's secretary) running around frantically and delightedly interacting with Carey makes up for any redundancy.
The story does seem shoehorned into the gaps around the songs that take center stage in this production. Particularly confusing was the presence of young Mykal-Michelle Harris from Mixed-ish as "Young Mimi" in scenes with Carey's real-life children Moroccan and Monroe. Is she supposed to represent young Carey? Is she supposed to be a friend who has nowhere to be on Christmas? Don't think too hard about it -- just enjoy a sparkly, shiny, 43 minutes of songs, dancing, mild humor, and holiday cheer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the Christmas season makes them feel. Are you more aware of opportunities for generosity and compassion this time of year? How does helping someone else lift your spirits?
How does Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special seem different than other holiday shows you enjoy?
What kind of things is your family doing to celebrate the holidays? Are there any holiday movies or TV specials you watch every year? What are some of your favorites?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 4, 2020
- Cast : Mariah Carey , Ariana Grande , Billy Eichner
- Directors : Roman Coppola , Hamish Hamilton
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Apple TV / Apple Original Films
- Genre : Musical
- Run time : 43 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 7, 2022
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