Christmas is just around the corner, and we're all a sucker for Christmas-themed movies. Filmmakers, especially from the Rom-Com genre, haze the audience with over-the-top, and most of the time, unrealistic love stories with Christmas theme on the sidelines that everyone keeps gushing about for a minute and then forget the next. Hey, it's understandable! After all, this has been the trend for as long as one can remember - and might we dare say that Netflix is not helping with this at all!
Among this race is a budding Philadelphia-born director, Charles Graudins, a.k.a Chuk Fresh, who aspires to trailblaze his own way instead of heading in the direction where everyone is at. Chuck Fresh and Indie Originals came up with this awesome idea for a short movie 'What Happened to Christmas?' that is not just entertaining to watch but thought-provoking and meaningful in its message, to say the least. However, surprisingly there isn't a dull moment in this thirteen-minute film, and the more you watch it, the more it sweeps you in. The movie raises many significant issues that have engulfed humankind and are very powerful in delivering the message.
It won't be an understatement to say that this is NOT your typical Christmas movie, but in this case, it's a good thing! The short film kicks off with a rhyming yet amusing commentary about all the hustle, bustle, joy, and shenanigans that Christmas brings along with it. From fake Santas putting on extra pounds to get into the character and online retailers shoving EVERYTHING Christmas down the gullible consumers' throats - it kind of covers it all in a way that puts a smile across the viewer's face! The Christmas-themed music in the backdrop at the beginning sets the tone of the movie, oozing all the Christmasy vibes that and we're living for it.
We see a disgruntled and drunk Santa played by Chuck Fresh, trying to get through Christmas eve. And boy, oh boy! It's not an exaggeration when we tell you that this Santa does not like POUTY mouth and ENTITLED children. Chugging one bottle after another (well, he was dizzy feet after all that drinking, and the bottles kept slipping and cracking), the drunk St. Nicholas dozes off in the backyard - and Voilà - it's time to see Jesus! At first, he thinks he has died and rejoices that the curse has lifted and he didn't have to live through yet another bastardization of the Christmas holiday.
But not so fast, dearie - this Santa ain't dead - and from there on there is no stopping him as he lets his heart out to Jesus as he inquires about what happened to Christmas since St. Nicholas took the reins as it is not what it used to be once! Santa tells Jesus all about how Christmas has lost its true spirit and meaning as people have turned it into a spectacle of gluttony, increased deforestation, mass production, and EVERYTHING that screams carbon footprint. Well, Jesus has a rather perfect and befitting proclamation to make it a "holy day" once again. Want to know what it is? Then you must watch this delightful movie here.
All in all, it won't be wrong to say that this movie is a breath of fresh air. In a short span of time, it communicates what it needs to say to the audience. It's entertaining, compelling, and fun to watch. Chuck Fresh is definitely one of the directors to watch, and we have a feeling that great things are meant to happen for this talented filmmaker. Can't wait to see what he comes up with next!
