The Claus Family (2020) User Reviews

Nice and warm Christmas movie with John Williamsque soundtrack

[rinze_anne · 7/10 · 22 December 2020]

For a Dutch/Belgian production I found it a nice and warm Christmas movie.

The acting isn't special as well as the storyline.

But what stood really out was the surprisingly pleasantsoundtrack by the young and talented German composer Anne Kathrin Dern. It was very much reminding me of John Williams his music for Harry Potter and Home Alone, although it lacks thematic material to be in our collective memory.

Cute enough

[Calicodreamin · 5/10 · 2 November 2021]

This film has all the right pieces of a Christmas movie, annoying kid learns a heartfelt message, but it's bland. The characters are expected and the budget obviously low. But, it's an easy watch.

Mediocre

[gregorydewaegheneire · 5/10 · 12 December 2020]

Not even Jan Decleir can raise the level of this movie. It has its funny moments, but all in all a forgettable movie. I've watched with my children and even they shared my opinion.

I've seen better

[calle-p · 7/10 · 13 December 2020]

Enjoyable but not waaaaw, I've seen better! To predictable and mediocre. The settings are nice and even my hometown was used. Merry Xmas everyone!

Enjoyable, predictable XMas movie

[lnauwelaerts · 7/10 · 18 December 2020]

This is a typical family XMas movie, especially for families with younger children. Beautifully made (lighting, photography, sets,...), but very predictable. Let's say it fits the Season. 😊

Mediocre storyline and horrible acting

[Aapje97 · 2/10 · 27 December 2020]

In contrast to your typical Hollywood Christmas movie, this is a bad movie overall. The storyline is mediocre, and the soap-like acting is just annoying.

Kids may enjoy

[techmaniis-31282 · 6/10 · 12 November 2021]

To those saying it's a foreign movie with English dubbed the reality is its a foreign movie with the option to dub in English. The. Original language with subtitles is available. As for the movie it's aimed at children and semi enjoyable for adults.

Plot holes

[ladyvgw · 4/10 · 10 December 2021]

So we are currently watching this and there are some BIG plot holes!

Why is Santa delivering presents from 23rd?? He started delivering to Austria first and people had left cookies out for him wtf?! Had the person whose made this movie even ever celebrated Christmas??

Also, what's the deal with way they've wrapped presents?? Once I spotted the doll wrapped all around each limb, I couldn't stop noticing the horrible wrapping!!

These were enough to ruin the film with me! Plus the dubbing! (I'm watching with my kids - subtitles aren't an option!) I felt like I'm watching a Korean dubbed film with the overacting!

Oh and why is the mum on day 2 of her job and is trying to save the factory? Why not start her own rival cookie business and take over instead??

Cheesy but easy

[Cheryldover · 6/10 · 13 December 2021]

If you're looking for a Christmas movie with all the polish of Hollywood then this may not be for you.

If you're listening to the dubbed English version then you'll find the voice acting falls a little flat sometimes. The storyline is cute, the backdrop and the settings along with the music are very cute but the story and execution is a little weak.

It hits all the expected plot points you'd look for in a Christmas movie (Family, reluctance and redemption) but it feels forced.

However it is easy to watch and a good bit of cheesy magic to pass the time during the festive season.

Time wasted

[rafatanure · 4/10 · 16 November 2021]

The little child is so arrogant that he didn't even want to finish watching the movie. Not to mention he's annoying naughty. Don't worth the time wasted. I think this movie. I think this movie is not even for adults much less for children, because it inflicts childish misbehavior and rebellion.

Loved it

[gretaheintz · 8/10 · 31 December 2021]

I am 70 years old. I watched 30-40 streaming Christmas movies this holiday season plus several I own on DVD. This is the ONE new movie I have been trying to find on DVD. I thought the script was original, acting excellent, great costumes. Terrific. I recommend this movie to my friends. Bah humbug to those of you expecting fine art films at Christmas. This is heartwarming, interesting, and just what I want in a Christmas movie.

Very cute Christmas movie and great music

[michelleberlijn · 7/10 · 9 December 2021]

This is a fun and cute Christmas movie with very nice music composed by Anne Kathrin Dern. Some say the kid is annoying, but all kids/people express their grieve in different ways. Him hating Christmas seems like a logical feeling to me, since that's the day he lost his dad.

All in all, a fun movie to watch with Christmas!

The typical hallmark channel quality movie. But more cringe.

[romansamurai · 3/10 · 14 November 2022]

Even my 11 year old thought this was a poorly written and directed movie. No real love for detail, plot or characters found anywhere. This was a difficult watch and I watch the hallmark channel movies with my wife regularly and even tolerate them. Yet this was somehow harder. It's like someone just made this to make a movie for holidays to say they did. There's better movies out there to watch for holidays. This one isn't worth the time.

To explain a little more: The characters are shallow, 1 dimensional and 180 on the spot without real buildup or growth. Scene setting quality is really poor. Holding a list of presents for an entire country and talking about how much work still left and the whole list is maybe 10 names tops. Packing manually for every kid in the country? Seriously? I mean a lot of stupid things they could have easily written off to "Santa or Elf magic" but instead decided to make mundane and boring as hell. No depth at all. And acting is very shallow and poor. Maybe a 4-7 year old crowd might enjoy it. But my 11 year old was bored, my wife who watched hallmark channel movies was bored and I honestly wanted to do anything else than watch this train wreck.

Good Christmas movie!

[matthiasspillemaeckers · 7/10 · 26 December 2020]

This movie has most things a good christmas film needs. Dialogues and screenplay are top notch with many funny and moving moments. Some of the actors were not always convincing in every scene, but overall well-delivered performances. Decleir as Santa is a true delight, as are many of the supporting roles, like Stefaan Degand, Sien Eggers and Pommelien Thijs.

Horrible

[deaventura · 2/10 · 17 March 2022]

An extremely rude and selfish boy, I will never recommend this movie to a child, because is a bad example! I can only use this film as an example to show how good therapy could have helped the boy through the grieving process.

Wanna get sad on christmas eve? look no further!

[Mynameisroman · 4/10 · 27 November 2022]

The whole movie is just sad. The whole music is giving you a vibe that you are almost going to cry. Then there is this sad family that copes with loss and a half senile santa. The production value isn't big, and some performances questionable. There is also a side storyline that makes no sense with the mums new jobs. Also we get some cuts to jump between two timelines, one year before and the present which felt weird. I don't have anything good to say about the movie. I would prefer something more upbeat like Tim Allen Santa Clause. This is the complete opposite. There are a couple of emotional moments that worked but most of the movie was just sad and boring.

Horrible dub, boring plot

[max_b2 · 4/10 · 25 December 2020]

Both kids are so horribly dubbed in such a way that it severely detracted from the experience. Movie was alright but was all over the place in pacing and didn't have a clear idea what it wanted to be. Sort of bad crossover of 'Alles is Liefde' meets 'K3 in smurfenland'

Very entertaining.

[thijsvaneijk1990 · 8/10 · 9 December 2020]

Just a good feel good movie with nice humor and some nice twist. The movie is made for children but also enjoyable for adults.

Dutch & Acting

[kajsylvio · 5/10 · 13 December 2020]

If you take out the Dutch actors, it is a very nice film, that is íf you like xmas-films (and I don't particularly like them). However, I like the Flemish actors (=The Dutch speaking Belgians), they perform far more natural than Dutch actors. Dutch actors are horrible in performing natural. The Flemish saved this movie!

Enjoyable for what it is.

[dsbreeden · 5/10 · 13 December 2021]

It's not a great but not as bad as the alien Xmas on Netflix. There are some semi heart warming moments but the writers really seemed to be grasping at straws. For example the "save the factory" mentality the mother has, the antagonist at the factory is a lower level manager what sensible adults wouldn't just go above her head. One of my biggest problems is the Mrs president in America, we've literally never had a female president not to say it would be bad or that a woman couldn't be president. I guess the monkey they had review the script for most of the film just wasn't invested in this movie.

All in all if you want something to watch with your kids it's a fine movie, just don't expect to have much cheer yourself this holiday season.

Overdub audio

[kel-02810 · 2/10 · 4 November 2021]

It's a foreign movie with English voice over. Seems like the description should mention that minor fact. Netflix must have been desperately seeking a bargain Christmas movie to add to the list.

Untypical Flemish/Dutch good quality

[joelassink · 9/10 · 13 December 2020]

Very entertaining with beautiful messages, for a lover of Christmas movies an absolute recommendation. I'm also a lover of Dutch movies but the quality of this one is much better. Felt as a big Hollywood movie. I liked it al lot as Dutchman.

Cute Christmas movie

[aislingflood · 8/10 · 26 December 2021]

To the person who said it's a dubbed over movie. All you have to do is click the button on the right hand corner and change it back to the original language. There are other languages besides English you know. As someone that enjoys movies from all over this was a great Christmas film. Really enjoyed it. The plot could be a bit better but it made for a enjoyable watch with some funny and sad moments.