The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
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That Christmas
Animation · Comedy · Family · 2024
It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans — including Santa's.
Movie details
That Christmas
“The story of a Christmas that needed more than just a sack full of fixing.”
2024 Animation · Comedy · Family 1h 31m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
7.1 / 10
Community rating
It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans — including Santa's.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over That Christmas?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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The Grinch
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Simon Otto
Written by
Richard Curtis · Peter Souter
Brian Cox
Santa (voice)
Bill Nighy
Lighthouse Bill (voice)
Fiona Shaw
Ms. Trapper (voice)
J
Jack Wisniewski
Danny Williams (voice)
Jodie Whittaker
Mrs. Williams (voice)
India Brown
Bernadette McNutt (voice)
Guz Khan
Dasher (voice)
Court is in session
Put That Christmas on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.