An Almost Christmas Story (2024): Review and Summary

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.

Film Length	24 Minutes
Release Date	November 15, 2024
Advisory Rating	Rated TV-G
Initially Available On/Via	Disney Plus
Genre(s)	Adventure, Youth, Animation, Holiday
Distributor	Disney
Director	David Lowery
Writer	David Lowery, Jack Thorne
Based On Work By	Jack Thorne, Alfonso Cuaron
Character Name	Actor
Moon	Cary Christopher
Luna	Estella Mardigal

Plot Summary

A young owl named Moon is a rambunctious little thing that likes shiny things, flying as far as it can, and being part of a three-owl family. But after accidentally destroying their nest, they go out to find twigs, and a hawk nearly gets them. Thankfully, they find a place to hide, but with that tree ending up at Rockefeller Center in New York, they have to rely on a girl named Luna and some of the local animals if they ever want to get home safely.

Character Descriptions

Moon

Moon is an owl living in a forest just outside New York City who loves to fly and shiny things and is a bit of a handful.

Luna

Luna is a girl who is looking for a little independence. To show she is capable, she took the train on her own but is now lost.

Other Noteworthy Information

Where To Watch This:

• Movie Contains: Nothing Notable
• The distributor is also known for “Wish.”
• The writer (Jack Thorne) is also known for “His Dark Materials.”

Review

Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing) – Recommended

Audience

Whether you are part of a family with kids who like animation or are a solo person who loves holiday movies, “An Almost Christmas Story,” which is short and uses the kind of animation you so rarely see anymore, is an excellent way to get you into the holiday mood.

Highlights

The Animation

The animation of “An Almost Christmas Story” reminds you of what we used to have, and when I say we, I mean the generations older than mine when puppetry and stop-motion were in use. Now, according to IndieWire, the environments are computer-generated, but everything else feels real and notable. This makes for a sense of nostalgia that all holiday or Christmas movies strive for, but for “An Almost Christmas Story,” it feels natural.

It’s So Cute At Times You Could Cry

Two kids, one owl, and one human lost in New York City made for a cute tale. Especially when you factor in, while they couldn’t fully understand each other, they could sense how the other felt and became quick friends. Then, add in Moon’s naivety and Luna somewhat regretting testing her ability to be independent, and you get two characters you easily could become invested in and even get emotional over as you see them stumble on their way to their goals.

On The Fence

The Singing

By no means is John C. Reilly a terrible singer, but I wouldn’t say it added much to have him singing.

What To Check Out Next

• Welcome Home, Franklin – Movie Review and Summary

  “Welcome Home, Franklin” does more than give Franklin Armstrong’s backstory; it reminds you of when you were young, yearning for a friend, and found that perfect person.

Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.

Images used for editorial and commentary purposes. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders.