TO just over a month from December 25th, they are arriving at the cinema and on Netflix Prime Video and Disney+, a slew of Christmas 2023 films. A rich catalog of comedies, feelings, laughter, action and sweets (obviously also animated) ready to please everyone.
Christmas films 2023 at the cinema and in streaming
Wish – at the cinema from 21 December
Voiced in the Italian version by Gaia, Amadeus and Michele Riondino, Wish is the new Disney animated film set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, a fantastic island off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula. In this fairy world, the young dreamer Asha expresses a desire so strong that it is granted by a cosmic force. In the case a small sphere full of energy called Star.
Asha and her new “friend” Star will have to face together the evil ruler of Rosas, the Magnificent King, to save their community. But above all to demonstrate to everyone that by combining willpower with the magic of the stars, wonderful things can happen. Also fighting alongside them is Valentino, a know-it-all goat who will help her friend Asha.
Directed by Chris Buck, director of Frozen the ice kingdom, Wish is a timeless fairy tale, full of magic, which pays homage to 100 years of Disney history.
Sliding on the snow – on Disney+ from November 17th
Eddie Garrick (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges) is a social worker in an Atlanta police station. He is a generous manbut due to a traumatic event that occurred on December 25th can’t stand Christmas. On the eve, together with the 9-year-old daughter Charlotte meets at work a mysterious man dressed in red, Nick (Lil Rel Howery).
Eddie doesn’t trust him he trusts him a lot. He has a dispute to resolve Oscar Nuñeza local politician: a feat that throws him and Charlotte into a magical adventure that could make him love Christmas again. And thanks to Nick.
Lil Rel Howery and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges in a scene from “Slipping on the Snow.” (Disney)
Suddenly I’m getting married at Christmas – at the cinema from 6 December
Directed by Francesco Patierno, it is the sequel to Suddenly Christmas. There are a few days left until Christmas Eve and, like every year, Lorenzo’s family (Diego Abatantuono) meets in his hotel to spend the holidays. This year though, since the man has a sensational announcement to make to all his relatives, no one should be missing for anything in the world.
The news is that he is getting married to Serena (Carol Alt), a fascinating woman but with an ambiguous past. But her daughter Alberta (Violante Placido) really doesn’t want to know. Even because many things suggest that Serena is a gold digger. Between unexpected discoveries and twists, December 25th promises to be anything but a quiet celebration. The rich cast also includes Nino Frassica, the singer Lodo Guenzi and Michele Foresta alias Forest Wizard.
Diego Abatantuono and Carol Alt in a scene from “Suddenly at Christmas I’m Getting Married”. (Notorious Pictures)
My goodness – at the cinema from 14 December
The new hilarious comedy by Ficarra and Picone it is certainly one of the most anticipated titles among the 2023 Christmas films. The plot starts from a very simple premise: the world needs a new Messiah.
In fact, in Paradise, God, played by Giovanni Storti, instructs the Holy Spirit (Picon) to descend to Earth and place a new Jesus in a woman’s womb. Simply touching her with his hand.
The Spirit, however, after a drink with a man he met in a bar (Ficarra), he touches the man’s belly in an attempt to save him from an accident road. AND the pregnancy is done soon. In addition to the good Sicilian comedians, there are also some in the film Maria Chiara Giannetta and Barbara Ronchi.
“Santocielo” by Ficarra and Picone. (Medusa Film)
Merry Christmas from Candy Cane Lane – on Prime from December 1st
Thirty years ago The prince of women, Reginald Hudlin directs Eddie Murphy again. The star plays Chris, a man on a mission: to win his neighborhood’s annual contest for the house with the most beautiful Christmas decorations. To beat the competition, He makes a deal with a mischievous elf (Jillian Bell), who however casts an unpleasant spell.
That is to say brings the “12 Days of Christmas” to life. Mischievous creatures from the nursery rhyme of the same name which wreak havoc throughout the city, risking ruining the holidays for the entire community. Together with his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), Chris begins a race against time to break Pepper’s curse. And bring peace to Candy Cane Lane.
Eddie Murphy in a scene from “Merry Christmas from Candy Cane Lane”. (First)
Elf Me – on Prime from November 24th
Trip (Lillo) is a builder elf with a not easy temper at the service of Santa Claus. His toys are very particular, because thanks to magic they are “creatures” that come to life and rebel. By messing around more than necessary, one day he meets little Elia (Federico Ielapi), a bullied boy who lives with his single mother Ivana (Anna Foglietta), a penniless toymaker.
To help her, Elf teaches her to make toys interesting ones that increase Anna’s turnover. But suddenly, Ciocca (Claudio Santamaria), an unscrupulous entrepreneur, arrives to spoil the party who wants to appropriate Trip’s talent. And, perhaps, also of the heart of the beautiful Ivana. Directed by the YouNuts! collective, the film also includes a rich cast of character actors such as Giorgio Pasotti, Caterina Guzzanti and the director, who lends himself to acting, Gabriele Mainetti.
Lillo in a scene from the film “Elf Me”. (First)
Family Switch – on Netflix from November 30th
Based on the children’s book Bedtime For Mommy by Amy Krouse-Rosenthal, says the story of Jess (Jennifer Garner) and Bill Walker (Ed Helms). Spouses doing their best to keep the family together with two grown children and a small one who just doesn’t want to obey the house rules.
Things change on Christmas Eve, when due to a fortune teller met at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, members of the Walkers find themselves with mixed identities. Miles, the little one of the house, ends up in the dog’s body. Between misunderstandings and embarrassments, Will they be able to return to their respective bodies?
The cast of the comedy “Family Switch”. (Netflix)
Silent Night – The silence of revenge – at the cinema from November 30th
Directed by action master John Woothis revenge movie launched as a 2023 Christmas film marks the return to the United States of the director of Face Off almost twenty years later. Here the story has the protagonist a man still mourning the death of his young sonwho was killed in the crossfire of a gang clash on Christmas Day.
Godlock (Joel Kinnaman), the protagonist, chooses to take revenge on the night of December 25th of the following year. Also injured the year before and left voiceless, the man decides to kill those responsible for the child’s death one by one. Entering the criminal slums thanks to the help of the beautiful Saya (Catalina Sandino Moreno). Also in the cast is rapper Kid Cudi.
Joel Kinnaman in a scene from “Silent Night”. (Plaion Pictures)
The Velveteen Bunny – on Apple TV+ from November 22nd
Based on the childhood classic by Margery Williams, tells the story of William (Phoenix Laroche), a very shy and introverted 7-year-old boy who lives with his father, always away from home, and with his stepmother, unpleasant and severe. To improve his life will be a new friend, that is the last gift left to him by his mother: a stuffed bunny that suddenly, thanks to the child’s tears, it comes to life. And she will dream with him of become a real fur and bone animal.
Mixing live-action and animation with great skill, The Velveteen Bunny It’s a fairy tale that will captivate adults and children alike. In the English version, the bunny’s voice is by Helena Bonham Carter.
A scene from the film “The Velveteen Bunny”. (Apple TV+)
Best. Christmas. Ever. – on Netflix from November 16th
Every Christmas Jackie (Brandy Norwood) sends out a nasty newsletter in which she attacks everyone. Reading the last one, Charlotte (Heather Graham), an old campus friend of hers, she finds herself hurt by the offensive content. She is far from inadequate.
He proves it to her thanks to a twist of fate a few days before Christmas, when with her husband and children she falls into the house: the perfect opportunity to make her understand how miserable her life is. Will the two old friends be able to overcome their hostilities and rediscover the friendship of the past? A perfect comedy that rightfully enters among the most anticipated films of this Christmas 2023. Mary Lambert, director of several of Madonna’s 1980s videos, directs.
Heather Graham in a scene from “Best. Christmas. Ever.”. (Netflix)
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