Looking for a dose of holiday cheer? A Boy Called Christmas premieres on Netflix November 24, 2021. A whimsical story in search of hope, is this movie kid-friendly? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG rating, in my A Boy Called Christmas Parents Guide and Movie Review. Here’s what parents need to know to help YOU decide if it’s appropriate for kids. As always, no spoilers!
A Boy Called Christmas Parents Guide + Movie Review
I don’t know about you, but I love a good Christmas movie. There’s something about them that makes you a feel like a kid again. They help you remember the true meaning of the season, and that you’re never too old to believe in magic.
A Boy Called Christmas opens with three children who have recently lost their mother. It’s Christmas Eve, and they’re having trouble remembering the joy of the season. The kids are still heartbroken over the loss of their mom. One of them even says, “But I still love mommy with all the broken pieces.” That is about enough to make your heart shatter.
The kids aren’t thrilled about Aunt Ruth (Maggie Smith), babysitting for the night because she’s so old. However, their aunt surprises them with a story about a boy named Nikolas. The children are immediately able to connect with Nikolas, because he has lost his mother, as well.
A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS – MAGGIE SMITH as AUNT RUTH. © 2021 Netflix US, LLC – Studiocanal SAS
Nikolas embarks on an expedition to find Elfhelm. He travels with his talking pet mouse, Miika, who is absolutely hysterical. His lines will have you rolling with laughter. Along their journey, they meet a reindeer whom Nikolas names Blitzen. Their adventure is no small feat, as they encounter many challenges along the way.
Will Nikolas be able to find Elfhelm and restore hope in his village?
A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS – HENRY LAWFULL as NIKOLAS. © 2021 Netflix US, LLC – Studiocanal SAS
The Cast
Hats off to the filmmakers of A Boy Called Christmas for incorporating such a diverse cast. Each of the characters bring importance to the story. As I said, Miika the mouse was hands down my favorite character. He was super cute and exceptionally hilarious. Zoe Margaret Colletti, who plays The Truth Pixie, was another really fun character, and Mother Vodal, played by Sally Hawkins, portrayed the villain of the story to perfection. Of course we cannot forget Aunt Ruth (Maggie Smith), who brings that whimsical touch.
A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS – (Pictured) Sally Hawkins as Mother Something. Cr: NETFLIX © 2021 Netflix US, LLC – Studiocanal SAS
The Visuals
Talk about absolutely stunning visuals — A Boy Called Christmas certainly doesn’t disappoint. The charm and picturesque landscape of the village is done beyond beautifully. The CGI of Miika the mouse, Blitzen the reindeer, and other animals couldn’t have been done better — each of them showing their unique characteristics and truly looking like real animals.
A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS – (Pictured) Miika the Mouse (voiced by Stephen Merchant). Cr: NETFLIX © 2021 Netflix US, LLC – Studiocanal SAS
IS A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS KID-FRIENDLY? HERE’S YOUR PARENTS GUIDE:
A Boy Called Christmas arrives on Netflix just in time for the holiday season. If your family is anything like mine, they’ll be aching to watch a brand new Christmas movie. However, crazy cute mouse or not, there are certain notable elements parents need to know before allowing their children to watch this film.
A Boy Called Christmas has an MPAA rating of PG for peril, action, and thematic elements. It has a runtime of 1 hour 46 minutes. There is no down time in this movie, it moves at the perfect pace. Let’s break down the thematic elements and take a closer look.
Language
There is no profanity in A Boy Called Christmas. Characters use words such as “dippy,” “knob,” and “fools.” I certainly appreciated the mild language.
Violence
The violence level is fairly tame. There are a few chase scenes, and a troll tries to eat a child. There is mention of making people’s heads explode, and you witness a character fall to their death. The villain in the film uses a magical staff to stop people and as a means of destruction. There is also a child shown in a cage.
Sensitive Content
There is a lot of mention of the mother’s death from both families in the movie. The loss of a parent is certainly something that can be upsetting for little ones.
Age Recommendation
Although there are a few themes that might be a bit unsettling to children, I would recommend A Boy Called Christmas for ages 6 and up. However, if a storyline involving the death of a parent would be too upsetting, I’d hold off until they are older. There are many powerful messages tucked into this film. Kids and adults will appreciate the takeaways.
A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS – (Pictured) Indica Watson as Little Noosh. Cr: Jonathan Olley/NETFLIX © 2021 Netflix US, LLC – Studiocanal SAS
Overall Thoughts
A Boy Called Christmas is a magical film to remind you that “Christmas is the kindest and smiliest day of all.” There is an important message that seeing is believing and home is a not a place, but a feeling. Above all, A Boy Called Christmas brings us the magic of joy, and joy can give us hope. Grab your family, your popcorn, hot cocoa, and a snuggly blanket. A Boy Called Christmas hits Netflix November 24th.
A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS – (L-R) Henry Lawfull as Nikolas, Miika the Mouse (voiced by Stephen Merchant) and Zoe Margaret Colletti as The Truth Pixie . Cr: NETFLIX © 2021 Netflix US, LLC – Studiocanal SAS
A Boy Called Christmas Synopsis
An ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and a loyal pet mouse, Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical, comic and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible.
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS PARENTS GUIDE AND MOVIE REVIEW HELPFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY. WILL YOU BE WATCHING?!
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