TV & Showbiz

Brits baffled at Americans pulling Christmas crackers in Netflix film

WHAT HAVE I JUST WITNESSED.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 28th December 2024

If you’ve immersed yourself in all things Christmas in recent weeks, whether it’s eating non-stop festive food or binge-watching anything with a bough of holly on the cover, you might also have felt the simmering rage induced by A Kindhearted Christmas.

This typical Hallmark movie, starring 90210’s Jennie Garth, follows its lead character as she spreads festive cheer around her picturesque town through anonymous gifts.

While she hopes to remain the town’s well-wishing Secret Santa, she risks exposing herself when she starts to fall for a local news anchor.

So far, so tacky (which is exactly what a Christmas film should be).

But it’s not the wishy-washy script or woeful audience reviews (27% on Rotten Tomatoes) that has sent Brits into a fiery rage.

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It’s one particular scene of A Kindhearted Christmas, about an hour in, when the starring couple pull Christmas crackers together.

But rather than the traditional way, where you share a cracker with someone else and tug it to see who wins the bigger half, usually elbowing someone in the head in the process, they… pull the crackers by themselves (?!).

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In the scene, lead character Jamie is having a romantic dinner with Scott (Cameron Mathison), when he presents her with a pair of novelty Christmas crackers.

“These are Christmas crackers from England,” he tells her.

“Typically, you open them before the meal, but my parents always used to make us wait until dessert. 

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“I’m gonna show you how to do it.”

Americans pulling Christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas. Credit: Netflix
Americans pulling Christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas. Credit: Netflix

Strap in guys because he’s about to explain exactly how NOT to pull a Christmas cracker.

“So you go in here and you find the little tab,” (here he shoves his fingers into the hollow handle of the cracker), “And I’m gonna show you right here why they call them a cracker.

“Make sure you squeeze them hard, and then on the count of three, everyone pulls at the same time.

“There it is, you see, isn’t that good?” 

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The sight of two people pulling Christmas crackers on their own might be the most bleak thing we’ve seen all season – and of course, other viewers have agreed.

When one person shared the clip on TikTok, Specsavers replied: “What have we just seen…”

@mlouise1981

#akindheartedchristmas #netflixmovies #netflixfail #hallmarkchristmasmovies #christmasmovies #christmas #christmascrackers #christmascrackerjokes #ukchristmas #netflixx #cheesychristmasmovie #romcoms

♬ original sound – Louise Ft Bailey the Pugalier

Someone else said: “Hang on America doesn’t have them and this is how they think we open them. I’m confused about where they got this info from.”

One comment reads: “The whole of England is so confused right now.”

Someone shared: “‘We should add a scene with British Christmas crackers!’ ‘OK, but how do you open them?’ ‘Who cares!'”

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One person said on X: “So the scene with the christmas crackers in A Kindhearted Christmas is just ridiculous. It just shows that absolutely zero research was done at all. I can not believe the movie was released with that scene left in. I hope the director is embarrassed.”

Someone else said: “I’m watching A Kindhearted Christmas and they’re trying to claim you pull Christmas crackers with yourself… Nooo the whole point is it’s a fight to the death”

Another wrote: “Thank you for the nod to the British tradition of Christmas crackers, but you broke hearts everywhere here by having them pull their own!”

And someone posted: “Watching A Kindhearted Christmas on @NetflixUK. Do Americans really not know how to pull Christmas crackers?” (Technically, they are Canadian).

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Featured image: Netflix

TV & Showbiz

Beloved Greater Manchester-born presenter Judith Chalmers has died at 90

Danny Jones Danny Jones Judith Chalmers dead at 90

Well-known Greater Manchester native and beloved British TV presenter Judith Chalmers has sadly died at 90 years old.

The former Wish You Were Here…? host was known not only for the once smash-hit travel programme, which ran for the best part of three decades, but she also enjoyed a spot on BBC Radio 2, along with the Strictly forerunner, Come Dancing, among many other guest appearances over the decades.

Judith Rosemary Locke Chalmers OBE, to use her full title, was born in Stockport back in 1935 and is said to have passed away peacefully at home on Thursday evening, 21 May.

The tributes to the broadcasting legend are continuing to pour in online.

A familiar Northern face, Chalmers presented the primetime show from its inception in 1974 until 2003, and was made an OBE for her services to broadcasting in 1994.

The proud Gatley girl enjoyed a long and successful stint on screen before having to step away from her various duties in her later years due to declining health.

She leaves behind her husband, Neil Durden-Smith – himself a former sports commentator – along with two children, including Mark Durden-Smith, who has also gone on to a career in presenting

Unfortunately, Chalmers was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years ago, meaning she gradually withdrew from the public eye even further; those around her have done plenty of important fundraising for the cause ever since.

Stopfordians have also been honouring the local lass’ legacy and much-admired reputation.

In a statement issued to ITV (once her long-time employers), her family said: “After living an extraordinary life that involved over 60 years in broadcasting and countless adventures all over the globe, Judy sadly passed away last night, surrounded by the family she loved so much after suffering with Alzheimer’s for some years.

“We will miss her greatly, but she leaves behind a giant suitcase of the happiest of memories.”

Our thoughts are with her family, friends and long-established fan base up and down the country at this difficult time.

Rest in peace.

Featured Images — Thames TV/ITV (archive images)

TV & Showbiz

A special UK exclusive screening of the new Star Wars movie is taking place here in Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mandalorian Grogu special IMAX screening Printworks VUE Manchester

Calling all die-hard Star Wars fans across the galaxy (or at least here in Britain, anyway), a special screening of the franchise’s newest film, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is coming exclusively to a Manchester cinema.

Even better still, it’s the only place in the UK that will be showing it. So damn cool.

The new spin-off set to land in theatres this month is the latest addition to the Star Wars cinematic universe and expands the hit Mandalorian TV series.

Most exciting regarding its domestic release here in the likes of Manchester, the VUE cinema in the Printworks is the only place putting on the IMAX version of the new movie.

Made specifically for IMAX, this is the first Star Wars film shot for and using fully IMAX-certified digital cameras and designed specifically for the experience.

The Mandalorian and Grogu – which is set to drop later this week – features 53 minutes presented in Printworks Manchester’s towering IMAX 1.43:1 aspect ratio.

Aimed to maximise screen size, deliver the most high-end visuals as possible, and further help with overall immersion, there really is nothing quite like it.

If you’ve ever seen a film in IMAX, you’ll know just how much extra enjoyment it brings.

With the Printworks branch selected as the UK’s exclusive destination for the film’s expanded 1.43:1 IMAX presentation, Greater Manchester are in for an absolute treat.

You can see the most recent trailer down below.

Let’s just say it’s received ‘mixed’ reviews, so far…

To celebrate launch day even further, VUE Printworks will also be hosting a limited one-off early morning screening at 6am, giving the most dedicated fans a chance to be among the first audiences in the country to see Din Djarin and Grogu make their big screen debut.

If anything, the seemingly divisive early reactions to the full feature film expansion of the ‘Mando’ lore have kind of made us want to watch it even more.

As always with these things, we’d encourage you to go along and make your own mind up, but we’ll be honest: our heavy Star Wars obsession will most likely make us biased to love this almost unconditionally. Tickets are live now right HERE.

Will you be going to see it?

vue cinema printworks showings manchester on right now
mando grogu movie
Just over 2 hours, The Mandalorian and Grogu film hits streaming later this year. (Credit: The Manc)

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Disney+

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