The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland is a wholesome, fascinating little twist on Alice in Wonderland, with lovely voice acting from all its stars. There’s a riveting, unmistakably comforting hint of nostalgia present in animated Christmas films that especially hits me. Maybe it’s because the holidays have a way of taking us back to our past, but they often feature something so special to hold onto.
Such is the case here, too, and particularly for those of us who also adore the story of Alice in Wonderland. The twist on the Red Queen and how she became the way she did is what makes The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland refreshing. There’s also the gorgeous detail that our beloved Bridgerton viscountess Simone Ashley voices the character of Alice, making her all the more delightful.
Ashley doesn’t simply deliver compelling voice work that’s so different from her previous roles, but she brings something warm and lovely, including a song (“Cool to Be Kind“) to add to all our Christmas playlists. Her version of Alice feels lived in and familiar, even when the film isn’t long enough to give us too many details. There’s a tenderness in her depiction that’s so easily comforting that I imagine many kids of this generation will want to keep this story on rotation during the holidays.
More than anything, refreshing twists like this that tend to ensure that the story is inclusive and lovely make everything in the story easier to invest in and appreciation. The animation work feels like something that’s both timeless and new, giving us a delightful Christmas treat that’s akin to Klaus, or some of the newer content that feels especially necessary during the holidays. Again, animated films sometimes hit a bit differently—they tug harder on our nostalgia and the need to feel a bit of familiarity during the holidays.
Additionally, the play on allowing The Red Queen to have such a captivating backstory reminds me a bit of the underrated Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. It takes what we know about the most popular fairytales and adds far more captivating depth to the supposed villains. And here, there’s not only tremendous heart, but the incredible Emilia Clarke lends her voice beautifully to the role, giving us the type of range that makes the characterization that much more exceptional.
Gerard Butler, Lenny Rush, Mawaan Rizwan, Asim Chaudhry, Mae Muller, Naomi McDonald, and everyone else add a wealth of joy to the film’s heart, too. The music, the storytelling, the pacing, the lighting (which is a tireless argument these days), and every bit of the vocal performances make The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland feel like a joyous Christmas classic. If you’re feeling extra nostalgic given the state of the world and missing the 25 Days of Christmas cartoons we used to wake up early for on Saturday mornings, then this is the movie that’ll fill the very specific hole. Beautifully inclusive, bright, and so very wholesome, the animated feature is worth every minute.
The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland is now streaming on Hulu or Prime Video.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Sky