Animated Christmas Movie ‘The Star’ Is a Streaming Hit on Netflix

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As someone who has spent countless Christmases watching classic holiday films with my family, I must say that this year, I decided to break away from tradition and give a new film a try – The Star. And let me tell you, it was a refreshing change of pace!

As the festive spirit fills the air, families are uniting to savor traditional Christmas movies or opting for separate screenings on various streaming platforms, each lost in their own world of entertainment. Regardless of the choice, Christmas films have surged into the favorite lists of many streamers. If you’re tired of re-watching perennial favorites like “Elf” and “Love Actually,” why not explore a lesser-known, captivating Christmas film? There are numerous options to pick from as new Christmas movies flood the market during this season. The 2017 release “The Star” is one such film that you’ll regret missing in years past, and it’s rapidly climbing Netflix’s streaming rankings.

At the moment, you can stream “The Star” on Netflix, and it’s currently holding the 7th spot among the week’s most popular movies on the platform. This heartwarming film, released in 2017, offers a unique perspective of the birth of Jesus by telling the story through the eyes of various animals present at the first Christmas. Directed by Timothy Reckart (known for “Head Over Heels”), it boasts an impressive voice cast that includes Steven Yeun, Tyler Perry, Gina Rodriguez, Oprah Winfrey, Keegan Michael-Key, Zachary Levi, Kelly Clarkson, Christopher Plummer, Kris Kristofferson, and Tracy Morgan. In a nutshell, “The Star” follows the journey of several animals as they help a small donkey named Bo find his destiny in Bethlehem on that very special night.

Bo the donkey, tired of his routine existence, yearns for change and seeks something new. He embarks on a thrilling voyage and encounters Ruth, a friendly sheep, and Dave, an amiable duck, who add excitement to his otherwise mundane life.

The movie, titled “The Star,” managed to make a decent impact at the box office when it was launched in 2017. While it didn’t become a blockbuster sensation, it more than recovered its $20 million production cost, earning $40.9 million in total. However, it wasn’t universally praised by critics, with only 45% approval on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this mixed critical reception, it’s worth noting that audiences seemed to enjoy it more, giving it a score of 70%. So, even though the reviews might not have been stellar, the audience rating suggests that it could still be an enjoyable watch.

Why Critics Hated ‘The Star’

Regardless of attracting an audience, the movie “The Star” faced harsh criticism from several critics who found its animated holiday theme lacking. Critic Tim Brayton of Alternate Ending takes offense at the film’s inappropriate humor, stating it as one of many oddly insensitive elements that can be found throughout the movie. Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of AV Club expresses skepticism about the film’s underlying intentions. Despite boasting an all-star cast and biblical narrative, does this translate into a good film? Apparently not, as “The Star” consistently fails to rise above the perception that it was created solely for financial gain. Ed Potton of The Times leaves no doubt in his review about his feelings towards the movie. It’s clear that he won’t be revisiting the film during Christmases to come, as he wrote: “I have no intention of watching this film again.

“Why has nobody thought of this before – the Nativity retold for kids via knockabout animal animation and gloopy pop ballads? Oh yes, because it’s an absolutely dreadful idea.”

But it’s not all bad. According to William Bibbiani of IGN, The Star is like your nephew’s school nativity that you dread going to, but actually isn’t that bad, as they said, “The writing, voice-acting and animation are unremarkable, but they get the job done, and the film’s heart seems to be in the right place.” Is The Star the next Christmas classic? Probably not. Should you give it a try and judge for yourself? Definitely.

The Star is currently streaming on Netflix.

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2024-12-16 21:03