Christmas on Mistletoe Farm

➤ Rated TV-G
➤ Netflix

Christmas-themed films appear like sprigs of mistletoe above revelers’ heads this time of year. Christmas on Mistletoe Farm, currently among Netflix’s Top 10 films, offers an interesting countercultural premise: A widowed father of five inherits a farm. So, pucker up or turn the channel? There are reasons for both options.

The British movie is full of charm and humor. Witty one-­liners, barnyard hijinks, and colorful minor characters keep the film frenetically paced but never confusing. The downsides: Characters misuse God’s name and seek the stars for guidance, and altered carols avoid mentioning Christ. The film also normalizes gender confusion. A boy named Buster (talented 8-year-old Dexter Sol Ansell) wears “sparkly things” and pink shirts, and he insists on giving a male goat a girl’s name. During the end credits, two men kiss under mistletoe. So much for countercultural.

The story: Matt (Scott Garnham) is a busy London ad writer. His boss (Ashley Jensen) puts him in charge of an impor­tant account and doesn’t care that he’s raising five children alone. “In business, kids don’t count,” she snaps.

At the same time, Matt inherits a 20-acre working farm from his father, whom he barely knew growing up. Matt and his children move there and learn the ropes from overeager farmhand Beano (Scott Paige). As the farm’s owner, Matt is responsible for the local village’s Christmas festivities. When his workload interferes, the villagers pitch in to help save Christmas. Add Matt’s new love interest and two oddball real estate developers trying to take over the farm, and there’s never a dull moment. Just a few disappointing ones.

Christmas movies

• A Charlie Brown Christmas / 1965
• It’s a Wonderful Life / 1946
• Elf / 2003
• White Christmas / 1954
• A Christmas Carol / 1951
• The Polar Express / 2004
• Miracle on 34th Street / 1947
• Home Alone / 1990
• The Muppet Christmas Carol / 1992
• The Nativity Story / 2006

Source: As voted on by readers of WORLD’s Muse newsletter