I was so excited to see The Christmas Chronicles 2. I remember absolutely loving the first instalment when it was released two years ago and have been hoping for a sequel ever since. This year I got my wish! My expectations for this one was higher than normal and I’ll admit that it did take awhile to get going, but when it did, I was completely engrossed. I loved it almost as much as the original and am still smiling about it days later.

The story picks up a couple years later. Kate Pierce (Darby Camp) is on vacation in Mexico with her brother Teddy (Judah Lewis), her mother Claire (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) as well as her mom’s new boyfriend Bob (Tyrese Gibson) and his son Jack (Jahzir Bruno). Unfortunately, Kate does not like Bob very much and fears that her mother has started to forget about her late father.

Fed up and wanting to return home, Kate decides to take matters into her own hands. Her escape route, however, goes completely wrong and she is instead reunited with Santa (Kurt Russell) and Mrs. Clause (Goldie Hawn). Together with Jack who ended up coming along for the journey, the four must work together to stop a troublesome elf from canceling Christmas forever.

Guys, the visuals in this movie are un-freaking-real. Mexico is already breathtaking, but when we are transported to the North Pole, I couldn’t get over how everything looked. The sweets, the elves, the toy shops in Santa’s Village and of course the house where Santa and Mrs. Clause live. I wanted to pack my bags and go there immediately!

I have to say that while I did guess a few of the plot twists ahead of time, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment. There were a few different things going on at a time which seemed confusing at the beginning. Luckily everything came together at the end of the day which is all that matters.

The Christmas Chronicles 2 is a wonderful festive film for people of all ages to fall in love with. The humour, intrigue, adventure and heart makes for an unforgettable experience that be appreciated for years to come.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥