As soon as I saw that Alfonso Cuaron had a hand, even as just a producer, for Almost a Christmas Story (2024) I had high hopes. Add to that the general look of the film appealed to me (as well as that short, short, length) and I my expectations were fairly high. And I am glad to say that the film mostly lived up to them.
If we are going on the narrative of the film, it isn’t much more than solid. It is very sweet, but it is also something that has been seen before, two ‘lost souls’ trying to find their way home. What makes this film stand out is thew visual style. It is absolutely beautiful. The stop motion is done in a way where it is both extremely polished, but also has enough of an edge to it that it isn’t flawless, but that makes it so much more likeable. It makes you fully appreciate the craft that goes into the film, and it is a visual treat throughout. I love the mix between how the films puppets are so intricate and detailed, but all the background characters are made of paper. It shows the focus and also gives a juxtaposition of styles that really works. It also has a great colour palette throughout. Yes, it is very short but it is unbelievably sweet and well worth a watch.
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