Remember the viral 2020 story about the little fluffy owl that was found hanging in the Rockefeller Christmas tree? Of course yes. KEWT is the thing of all time, lol, dawwwwwwww, *swoon*, and all that. Well, dude has his own Christmas special now, somehow he’s the inspiration for An almost Christmas storythe third Disney+ exclusive holiday-themed short film from producer Alfonso Cuaron. Best of all, it’s directed by David Lowery – who helmed the underrated Peter Pan and Wendy And Pete’s Dragon as well as key pieces of neo-arthouse A ghost story And The Green Knight – who oversees a distinctive visual approach for his stop-motion animation, rendering New York City entirely out of cardboard. That’s just one reason why this little bauble is a holiday treasure.

The bottom line: You could tell me that the John C. Reilly-voiced narrator here, simply nicknamed the Folk Singer, is a reincarnation of Burl Ives’ Snowman or post-fame Dewey Cox, and I would absolutely believe you. I mean, he just has that atmosphere. He strums a guitar and sings a Christmas tune that he calls “essentially absurd” because it contains fa-lee-la-loos and things like that. I have to admit it’s catchy. But that’s not what we’re here for. We are here for the owl. SHOW ME THE OWL AND MURDER ME WITH ALL THE ADORBS, PLEASE. THANKS.

So, this owl. It’s a youngster named Moon (Cary Christopher) with a little brother Peaky (Gianna Joseph) and an overprotective dad (Jim Gaffigan), who appears to be single to navigate his way through this story, so pour a hard one on for him, would you do it? Moon is a wandering spirit who likes to light up and tinker in the woods, much to Papa’s dismay. There are all kinds of hungry predators that would love to eat a little owl, you know. Moon is in love with shiny things like crinkly silver wrappers (I guess? Pop Tart) and city lights over there on the horizon. Between one thing (a mean old hawk) and another (Moon’s broken wing), the little guy ends up hiding in a hollow tree which is soon cut down and trucked into the old urban jungle.

Moon wakes up and sticks his head out of the tree and sees 30 Rock in all its Christmas glory: lights, baubles, snow, happy people skating on the ice, all that. He meets a little girl, Luna (Estrella Madrigal), who has difficulty skating because of her prosthetic leg. He also meets three slightly menacing but also slightly friendly pigeons, which makes them real New Yorkers – especially since one of them is voiced by Natasha Lyonne, who has the kind of Noo Yawk rasp that we can name this melody with a single note. Moon is so far unfamiliar with Christmas, but soon learns that what’s most important is being home. There is no mention of gifts or food or being too busy or any of the other junk that clutters up the most wonderful time of the year. Suffice to say that this little film is on point.

What films will this remind you of? : Think about the aesthetics of Guillermo del Toro Pinocchio meets the old Rankin-Bass promotions, and you’re in the right bracket. Oh, and one of the other Cuaron-produced shorts on Disney+, Alice Rohrwacher’s The Pupilis also a Christmas gem.

Performance value Look Audience: Making me choose between Lyonne playing a New York pigeon and Reilly singing falaloofalalaayyy is just cruel.

Memorable dialogues: The folk singer intervenes indirectly on the endless question-Die hard-a debate film about Christmas: “Have you ever wondered what makes a Christmas story a Christmas story? Some people say that if the game takes place during the holidays, then bingo, there you go. The Christmas spirit rubs off on it, and that’s all it takes.

Sex and skin: None.

Our opinion: Part of the folk singer’s Christmas speech explains how the holidays can be both happy and sad. You also probably know how the traditional visual elements of the season contrast between the warmth of hearth and home and the cold of freezing, snowy weather. These elements create the holiday atmosphere, which is a key ingredient in any Christmas celebration, whether on television, in movies or in real life. And An almost Christmas storyfrom its whimsical visual design to its simple, straightforward story, lovingly nurtures this joyous, melancholic tone and imbues it with emotion and heart, but without overt sentimentality. You’ll feel something, but you won’t end up bawling in your ugly sweater, and for that we should be relieved.

One of Lowery’s key thematic choices is to render the main characters three-dimensional – puppets made from papier-mâché or wood, perhaps – while the bit players are actual cardboard cutouts. New York itself is made of 100% corrugated cardboard, from buildings to steps and sidewalks to yellow taxis. It has a significant texture that matches the sepia color palette, which is comprised of browns, golds, and muted yellows that, for me, evoked fuzzy, vague memories of mid-century holiday decor at my grandparents’ house. parents. This movie is great at evoking things like that, things about Christmas that make you feel warm and secure in a memory.

Of course, the film isn’t all pensive fodder bordering on tears. Pigeons are funny, as is the Folk Singer, in all his slightly philosophical cheerfulness. The same goes for Moon, a little naive whose courage we can’t help but love. He and Luna talk in parallel as if there’s a language barrier between them, but once they realize the other has a disability – well, I think it’s the bond that breaks that barrier. What a beautiful gesture, discreet and gentle. How sweet is it? Like the devil, I would say, and I would never use that expression lightly. An almost Christmas story Worth it, hands down.

Our call: An almost Christmas story is pure and simple, healthy and utterly delicious. Spread it.

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.