When it comes to holiday classics, The Christmas Chronicles starring Kurt Russell has left a bittersweet taste. While Russell was excellent as Santa, the movie itself planted a seed of disbelief in my son. This incident has had a profound impact on our family and my parenting journey.

How a Holiday Movie Shattered My Son's Belief in Santa

Section 1: The Impact on My Son

Taking my 7-year-old to soccer practice was a turning point. His question about believing in Santa revealed the damage the movie had done. My son, who was once a true believer, was now on the verge of giving up the myth. It was a heart-wrenching moment for me.My daughter, on the other hand, held out for longer. This contrast made me realize the significance of the movie's influence. My son, with his sweet and innocent nature, was easily swayed by the details in The Christmas Chronicles.

Section 2: The Movie's Content

The Christmas Chronicles is about a family that loves Christmas. It follows their journey as they deal with various life events. But it's when they encounter Santa that the movie starts to peel back the onion of myth.We learn that Santa's hat holds most of his magic. His bag has multiversal and Hogwartsian dimensions, leading to a fantastical place with a massive magical capacity. The reindeer play a crucial role in the magical heavy lifting.The elves have their own powers but are mostly for comedic effect. Santa's only real natural power seems to be charm, along with the ability to make guitars appear and sing well.

Section 3: The Problem with Overexplanation

In today's big movies, especially kids' and holiday movies, there's a tendency towards overexplanation. The Christmas Chronicles is a prime example. Instead of letting the audience fill in the gaps or embrace the inexplicable, it tries to replace a boy's disbelief with facts.This overemphasis on details takes away the magic. It's like Miracle On 34th Street, which shows restraint and good vibes. It understands skepticism better than trying to answer it outright.

Section 4: Other Holiday Movies with Restraint

The Polar Express is all about faith. It's a fever dream that doesn't focus too much on details. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a cautionary tale about overthinking the magic of the holidays.Home Alone shows that sometimes, less is more. When Santa doesn't put presents under Kevin's tree, it's the family that matters. Elf uses comedic genius to let the audience imagine the rest.

What I'll Do

The man with the bag is out of the bag, but I plan to ignore it. I'll go through the motions of the holiday, making a list and going to Macy's. I'll never reveal my own belief but try to bring back the magic.I'll avoid The Red One and The Christmas Chronicles and choose more appropriate movies. As Kris Kringle reminds us, Christmas is a frame of mind, and we need to cherish it.Tyghe Trimble is the Editor-in-Chief of Inverse. With his diverse experience in journalism, he shares his personal story and insights. He's a dad of two living in Brooklyn.