'An Almost Christmas Story' Reviews: "Christopher's wit and impeccable line delivery all have the makings of a potential breakout performance"

         On November 15, 2024, Disney+ released 'An Almost Christmas Story', which has earned rave reviews from critics. In the holiday short, "Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents." The ensemble cast includes Cary Christopher, Jim Gaffigan, John C. Reilly, Alex Ross Perry, and Natasha Lyonne. But what did the critics say?

Photo by Josh Harrison on Unsplash

        Aidan Kelley of Collider says, "Christmas specials. You really don't see that many new ones these days, especially those that are completely original and don't have a connection to a specific IP. Now, when I say "Christmas special," I'm not talking about the dozens of feature films that are released across theaters and streaming. We've got plenty of those, and some pretty darn good ones too in recent years, such as Klaus and Spirited. I'm talking about those sweet short-form stories that typically aren't longer than 35 minutes that you'd find by pure happenstance when you turned on the TV, such as the dozens of iconic projects from Rankin/Bass including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and A Year Without a Santa Claus. The many works of Rankin/Bass appear to be a direct influence on Disney+'s newest holiday-themed short film, An Almost Christmas Story. Directed by David Lowery and produced by Alfonso Cuarón (two modern-day titans of the filmmaking industry), An Almost Christmas Story is a clear homage to the bygone era of holiday storytelling. Its attempt to emulate that era does admittedly lead to some familiar beats, but An Almost Christmas Story has enough charm and personality to make up for that." Adding, "With a run time of under 30 minutes, An Almost Christmas Story is already faced with the unenviable task of getting us to care about our central character instantly. The short succeeds in that goal, as Cary Christopher as Moon might just be the most lovable Christmas story protagonist since Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Where the safe choice for casting a child character in a voice-over role always seems to be a veteran voice actor or a big Hollywood name to attract viewers, the decision to cast an actual kid ends up being a fabulous choice. Despite his age, Christopher's wit and impeccable line delivery all have the makings of a potential breakout performance."