Upon its streaming release on Netflix, A Castle for Christmas has received a mixed reception from critics and audiences alike. The Christmas rom-com is directed by Mary Lambert, who is a surprising choice considering her credits mostly involve horror films and music videos for Madonna and Janet Jackson. A Castle for Christmas also stars ‘80s favorites Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes, yet despite this amalgamation of talents, the film still fails to live up to its potential.
A Castle for Christmas serves as an enjoyable addition to the Netflix holiday movie universe. The film explores best-selling author Sophie Brown’s heartwarming tale of a second chance at romance and success. Following a massive backlash surrounding her latest Emma Gale novel, Sophie decides to retreat to a Scottish castle, where she meets new friends and falls in love.
At the time of writing, A Castle for Christmas holds a 77% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 13 reviews, with the audience score reaching 47%. Although there is no critics’ consensus yet, the film holds a fresh rating in the review aggregator. Critics have praised the refreshing feel of the movie, shying away from the usual young-adult romances and giving way to the middle-aged shot at a happy ending. The actors’ performances are also commended, especially since they are no strangers to the genre, with Elwes starring in The Princess Bride. Despite A Castle for Christmas being a rom-com, it only employs well-worn tropes when necessary; instead, it fills the screen with newfound charm and exuberance. Here are some of the positive reviews for A Castle for Christmas.
"There is no jeopardy in this film at all: it is absolutely perfect for low-maintenance Christmas viewing."
"'A Castle For Christmas' is gently disarming, heartening, holiday-themed escapism that’s as satisfying as a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night."
"Shields and Elwes have palpable chemistry with each other, and all the little close calls in anticipation of a kiss sizzle with passion and fire."
"But as a feel-good romp that makes use of its star power (and as an antidote to Netflix’s nasty, fatuous, flatulent farce Father Christmas Is Back), [A Castle for Christmas] is just the uplifting slice of escapism that could brighten a trying day."
"That’s why having Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes as the leads makes A Castle for Christmas a must watch if you’re in the mood for some royal-adjacent holiday romance. These two bring all of their charms with them, and their chemistry is so good that it’s shocking these two have never acted together before."
However, amidst the revival of holiday rom-coms, critics are expecting something different. A Castle of Christmas not only uses clichés, but also falls into potentially harmful tropes surrounding gender and race. Moreover, although it makes for a guilty pleasure, the film offers no underlying themes relevant to today’s landscape. The barely-touched matters of Dunbar’s sustainable energy and political climate are a missed opportunity to educate its audience. Here are more of the negative reviews for A Castle for Christmas.
"A Castle for Christmas is highly formulaic, and the dialogue is clunky."
"Likeable stars with little frisson, Elwes and Shields are also saddled with a formulaic script. It also doesn’t help matters that Elwes, whose last lead in a romantic comedy was 'The Princess Bride,' does not look at ease."
"The main characters are obnoxious, the class politics are extremely dubious and the portrayal of rural village life [is] incredibly patronising. The geography is nonsensical, the history fantastical and the fashion impractical."
"The story is obvious, and the performances are sometimes hammier than a Christmas Eve glazed gammon from Waitrose, particularly from Hamish the dog, who sighs, dances, and ostentatiously hides shoes like an audience-baiting dame in a Cinderella pantomime."
Additionally, viewers, especially those who hail from Scotland, have expressed their opinion over the distasteful representation of their place and people. Some hated the fake Scottish accents of A Castle for Christmas’ characters, pushing to hire real Scottish actors instead, while others touched on the dangers of forming stereotypes based on the film. Ultimately, A Castle for Christmas may not be as groundbreaking or ambitious as expected, but it still delivers the warmth and feel-good vibes only a holiday romance can bring.