As a gamer with a soft spot for Christmas movies and an even softer spot for well-crafted narratives, I found myself utterly captivated by That Christmas. Having grown up watching the likes of Tim Allen and Richard Attenborough embody Santa Claus, I never would have imagined that Brian Cox, best known for his role as Logan Roy in Succession, could bring such a unique charm to the jolly old man.
Below are minor spoilers for That Christmas, a film that was released as part of the 2024 movie schedule. If you still need to catch up, you can check it out with a Netflix subscription.
When I think of Santa Claus, it’s usually faces like Tim Allen from “The Santa Clause” or Richard Attenborough in “Miracle on 34th Street” that come to mind. Frankly, I never thought someone as cool as Brian Cox could pull off Santa – but after chatting with the screenwriter and executive producer of “That Christmas,” Richard Curtis, everything fell into place.
For those unaware, “That Christmas” is an upcoming animated holiday film premiering on Netflix’s 2024 lineup. The movie centers around the town of Wellington-on-Sea and the intertwining tales that unfold on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. As a massive blizzard strikes, these stories converge, showing how the residents band together in their moments of crisis.
One character in particular is, of course, Santa Claus, the jolly red man himself, who Brian Cox voices. The Succession cast member isn’t a newbie to voice-acting, but having the serious dramatic actor take on such a role as Santa was surprising to me. I knew when I spoke to Curtis that I had to ask why Cox was a perfect choice. His first instinct was that Cox was, honestly, the closest to the North Pole they could have! In fact, he’s originally from Iceland:
Initially, it seemed that he hails from a northern region, specifically Scotland, which we find intriguing since we aren’t familiar with many actors from Iceland. So, geographically speaking, Scotland served as the closest approximation.
However, Curtis went on to explain that Cox was an ideal choice for their portrayal of Santa. They found Cox’s “toughness” appealing since this Santa would need to make some unconventional decisions, such as deciding which twin to give a stocking to on Christmas.
However, there’s a certain stoicism about Brian. He isn’t overly emotional or sentimental, whether as a person or in many of his roles, which I found appealing. This trait was especially fitting since Santa must make a difficult decision and leave an empty stocking. Thus, I appreciated the added toughness that Brian brought to the character.
Cox has done plenty of voice-acting work over his decades-long career, including stints on The Simpsons, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Doctor Who, Danny Phantom, and more. He’s even going to be voicing Helm Hammerhand in the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. But his voice work as Santa has been some of my favorites so far.
To put it simply, Curtis’ interpretation of Santa in that particular movie leaves no doubt in my mind that he was the perfect choice for the role. There are many memorable Santa portrayals on screen, but I believe Cox stands out among them due to his authenticity compared to other representations. Therefore, I must commend both Cox and the team behind That Christmas for making an excellent casting decision.
There are numerous fresh Christmas movies hitting Netflix and other platforms, such as the popular “Hot Frosty” and the entertaining “Merry Gentleman”. However, if you’re looking for a heartwarming choice, especially for a family movie night with kids, I would suggest the latest from the director of “Love Actually”, particularly if you’re seeking a fun animated film that might tug at your heartstrings. In fact, “That Christmas” is likely to make you shed a tear or two. Plus, you might just find yourself enamored with Cox’s portrayal of Santa!
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2024-12-06 01:37