For many people, a familiar pastime in the weeks leading up to major winter holidays is gathering with family members and watching holiday movies, be they in a theater or on television. During the month of December, the Falls Free Press will return to our tradition of “The 12 Films of Christmas,” focusing on new holiday movies for the year 2024—a year that can still do with plenty of peace and joy. We will review each film, whether naughty or nice, and let you know where to watch.
“‘Twas the night before Christmas, a dark snowy night
When St. Nick and his reindeer were just taking flight
His sleigh was jam-packed, brimming over with toys
To deliver that eve to the good girls and boys.”
This is how Carys Bexington opens
Her 2019 picture book
The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland
Just go take a look.
She tells the story of Santa delivering gifts
On Christmas Eve
But alas a letter is missed
Why wasn’t it perceived?
A new animated tale takes these cozy 32 pages
And brings them to life,
A darling production in all its parts
With voice talent of Gerard Butler as Old Saint Nick
And Emilia Clarke as the Queen of Hearts.
The letter in question
Comes from the Princess of Hearts,
A character in Wonderland
Unknown now in those parts.
It seems the White Rabbit was charged
With delivering the letter
From a pint-sized princess
Who grew to be a hater.
He got trampled, confused, and a little lost,
Trying to traverse to the magical mailbox.
The princess’s letter it seems not received
Until she was ruler and childhood wishes she grieved.
Yet the man in red did not know that this was the case
And deliver to the princess he did without haste.
The Mad Hatter and Hare
And Alice indeed
All these Wonderland characters
He and the reindeer did meet.
They discover the problem
Though while in the jail
But the Queen tries to improve
So Christmas would prevail.
While sick Robin the reindeer,
Voiced by Lenny Rush,
Sneezy and slow,
And quite very flushed,
Spends the whole movie
Taking tube, plane, and auto
To arrive in Wonderland
With Santa’s emergency toggle.
At just 80 minutes
There’s much more than the book
Lots of singing, and tea time
And rhyming afoot.
The fun and exciting
Storybook feel
Brought me back to my childhood
It felt just so real.
So why not review
This joyous new movie
In rhyme and pentameter
The sing-songy technique
Just feels so groovy.
These great songs and art
Of an illustrious adaptation
Both Hulu and Prime
Let you in on the action.
So this Christmas Eve
If you’re in with your kin
Watch The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland
And let everybody grin.
