Kunal Nayyaras Eshaan SoodThe story
About Christmas Karma
A present-day London retelling of A Christmas Carol, sung. A wealthy, hard-hearted businessman sacks staff and turns down his family on Christmas Eve, and that night three ghosts, played by Eva Longoria, Billy Porter and Boy George, walk him back through a life that began with his own family's flight from Uganda. Gurinder Chadha's musical mixes bhangra, gospel, pop and carols, and puts migration, racism and a divided city alongside the Dickens it follows closely.
The CineClaus verdict
Gurinder Chadha moves A Christmas Carol to present-day London and turns it into a full-tilt musical, with Kunal Nayyar as the miser and Eva Longoria, Billy Porter and Boy George as the three ghosts. It is loud, sincere and all over the place: bhangra, gospel and a Hindi take on a Wham! hit share the running time with refugees, racism and a family's flight from Uganda.
Most critics winced and few of the songs stick. But the Dickens bones hold, the redemption lands, and it wears its big heart where you can see it.
The family desk
Can the kids watch?
Our take: rated PG by the BBFC for mild violence, discrimination and language. The ghosts are only mildly spooky, but a brief racist attack and scenes of families fleeing their homes and grieving may need talking through with younger children.
Content advice & accessibility
- Our age guidance
- Editorial, separate from the official PG certificate, and never looser than it.
