Christmas on Mistletoe Farm parents guide

Christmas on Mistletoe Farm Parent Guide

Yes, it's cheesy. And, yes, it's corny. But it turns out that with enough heart, a cheesy, corny movie can actually work.

Overall A-

Netflix: When a single father of five inherits a farm, he thinks he's found a quiet place to get work done while his kids enjoy the outdoors for a few days. The kids have other plans: they want to live there permanently.

Release date November 24, 2022

Violence A-
Sexual Content A-
Profanity B
Substance Use A-

Why is Christmas on Mistletoe Farm rated TV-G? The MPAA rated Christmas on Mistletoe Farm TV-G

Run Time: 103 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Recently widowed Matt Cunningham (Scott Garnham) is struggling to balance his responsibilities as a single parent of five children with an increasingly stressful job. He has a big presentation looming ahead and he’s been told that his job depends on its success. When he inherits a farm from his estranged father, Matt sees an opportunity to find some quiet time to work on his project while his kids enjoy the countryside. Unfortunately, the farm needs a lot more work than he had anticipated, and Matt has an even harder time juggling his responsibilities on top of his new chores. When an opportunity to sell the farm comes up, Matt jumps at it, but his children and the local villagers have other plans.

Rather than launch into my opinions I’m just going to list some of the Christmas movie tropes in this film: An unexpected inheritance. A dead wife/mom. A man saying “December 24th? But that’s Christmas Eve!” A grinchy businesswoman who hates children and Christmas. Threats of being fired. Quirky villagers. A man and woman meeting by literally running into each other. Mistletoe. Greedy land developers. A town Christmas party. A musical number right before the credits. Sweaters of various colors. In other words, this movie has everything.

I’m usually not the biggest holiday movie fan, but there’s just something so charming about the genre when it’s done earnestly. As a critic, I could point out the flat cinematography, cliched writing, or the campy acting in this production, but it really doesn’t matter. There’s such a deep level of sincerity and holiday spirit that I can’t fault it. I had a fun, if somewhat mindless, time and my six-year-old had a few good laughs.

If you like holiday flicks, you’re going to love Christmas on Mistletoe Farm. It’s festive and charming and completely sincere if a bit corny and clichéd. And on top of that it’s very family friendly. Unlike the romance centered side of the genre, this story is focused on a man, his children, and their community. There is a bit of romance, but it’s not a main plot point. Aside from some very mild swearing, there isn’t much that would keep most audiences away. And the messages around the importance of family, doing the right thing, and the holiday spirit are sure to warm even the grinchiest of hearts. I know I’m feeling distinctly jolly after my viewing.

Directed by Debbie Isitt. Starring Scott Garnham, Scott Paige, Kathryn Drysdale. Running time: 103 minutes. Theatrical release November 24, 2022. Updated

Watch the trailer for Christmas on Mistletoe Farm

Christmas on Mistletoe Farm
Rating & Content Info

Why is Christmas on Mistletoe Farm rated TV-G? Christmas on Mistletoe Farm is rated TV-G by the MPAA

Violence: A man is kicked by a donkey. A man steps on a loose board and is hit in the face. Characters throw eggs at each other.
Sexual Content: A plot point around mistletoe results in a lot of kissing on the cheek. A man and woman kiss.
Profanity:   There are seven uses of terms of deity and one mild profanity.
Alcohol / Drug Use: One scene takes place in a village pub, but it’s during the day so there’s almost no visible drinking. There is brief mention of beer and wine.

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Christmas on Mistletoe Farm Parents' Guide

Why does Matt not want to keep the farm? What happens to change his mind and what does he learn from that experience?

Loved this movie? Try these books…

Fans of country Christmases will be delighted to find plenty of seasonal fare to share with their children. Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray and Barry Root tells the tale of Wilma, an elderly owner of a Christmas tree farm, and the five-year-old neighbor, Parker, who helps her. In ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on the Farm, Craig Manning takes the classic poem and resets it amongst farm animals. An ode to simplicity and less materialistic Christmases, A Simple Christmas on the Farm by Phyllis Alsdurf and Lisa Hunt sees a family deciding to buy fewer gifts and make those they do give away.

Home Video

Related home video titles:

In We Bought a Zoo, a widowed father abruptly moves his family to the country and becomes the owner of a small zoo. This movie is fine for older kids but the themes related to grief are a bit too much for little ones.

A father preoccupied with work finds his attention refocused on his family when old friends turn up in Christopher Robin.

A divorced dad discovers a whole new dimension to Christmas when a rooftop accident sees him don the big red suit in The Santa Clause.

In A California Christmas a man pretends to be a farm laborer to develop relationships and buy the farm. But he winds up falling in love instead.

Animals tell the story of the Nativity in the animated children’s movie The Star.

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