Netflix's new kids movie is both heartwarming and triggering

"Very touching and emotional movie, it made me understand that Christmas is beyond giving gifts."

It's been two decades since Love Actually director Richard Curtis gave us a Christmas classic that many have adored. 

Now, the British screenwriter, director and producer is back with an animated film that has jumped to the top 10 trending position on Netflix. 

The new kid's film, based on Curtis' own trilogy of books, is being hailed a family favourite already. But while some are sharing that they were left feeling all warm and fuzzy, others were a little triggered by some of the themes. 

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“We all have a Christmas memory where expectations were high and then things inevitably went utterly wrong." Image: Netflix

About Netflix's 'That Christmas'

The animated flick follows different families and their various takes on Christmas day after the holiday season doesn't exactly go as well as each one had hoped. 

“This movie tells the story of a troubled Christmas, forcing a group of kids and parents to accept that you can’t always plan life,” director Simon Otto told Netflix. “Life is chaotic, relationships are messy, and traditions sometimes must be re-evaluated."

For Curtis, he hoped that the film would leave the audience feeling "happy" and connected. 

“I hope it’ll remind people of the joy and complexity of Christmas, and some of the joys and comedy and heartbreak of childhood," he said. 

Ed Sheeran even makes a brief cameo in one of the original songs, "Under The Tree". 

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Love Actually director Richard Curtis is back with the new Netflix film 'That Christmas'. Image: Netflix

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There will be tears

For most families, the film delivered exactly what the filmmakers hoped for. 

"Very touching and emotional movie, it made me understand that Christmas is beyond giving gifts, it's about getting together with loved ones and family," one person commented Netflix's Facebook page. 

"Just watched this the other night. It was so cute and wholesome. Loved it. Definitely will watch it again," another added.

Another viewer said it was a perfect film for older children: "Absolutely loved watching this with my family, my boys are 14 and 11 and they enjoyed it too!"

And another agreed that it had a great message for children of all ages: "Great Animated movie for this time of year with a strong family message loved it."

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Viewers might be a little triggered

But for some viewers, there are two particular moments that have left them a little divided. 

Without giving away any major spoilers, the first comes in the opening scenes where the children are performing a school Christmas play that some have interpreted as poking fun at the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. 

"Great movie but the theme of the play was off putting," someone insisted. 

"As a Christian parent I was appalled within the first maybe 5 minutes. I can't review the whole movie as we turned it off," another slammed. 

Meanwhile, others acknowledged that the play scene could be seen as slightly controversial, but weren't entirely offended by it. 

"We loved it and my 8-year-olds understood they were making fun of nativity plays and not Jesus’ birth," one mum said. 

While it's heartwarming for some, others say their kids were triggered. Image: Netflix

The second storyline that had viewers divided involved the subject of an absent parent. 

"We loved this movie, except one thing. We were waiting till the last minute boy's father would come back... but he never did," someone wrote online. 

Another single mum also shared that her children found those scenes a little "triggering". 

"Just a warning that my sons were a little sad with the storyline about the dad because they were in a very similar position and found it triggering," they warned. 

Others said that they loved how the creators tried to turn what could've been a deeply sad and triggering storyline into one of hope and love.

"I loved how the mother was the hero and not the father for once (after being absent)," they said. 

That Christmas can be viewed on Netflix now. 

Originally published as Netflix's new kids movie is both heartwarming and triggering