The Couch Critics
The Couch Critics is your laid-back guide to movies and TV shows that deserve your attention—or maybe don’t. Nathan, along with a rotating door of eclectic co-hosts, dives deep into storytelling, character development, and cinematic style with a sharp eye and a wry sense of humor. Whether it’s a blockbuster hit, a hidden gem, or a cult classic, Nathan’s relatable approach ensures every episode feels like a cozy chat with a friend who just happens to love film. Perfect for casual watchers and cinephiles alike, The Couch Critics bring thoughtful critique without the fluff. Grab your favorite snack, settle in, and let Nathan and friends guide you through the world of screen entertainment.
The Couch Critics
Get Santa, Get Cozy
Santa behind bars shouldn’t work as cozy holiday viewing—and yet it absolutely does. We take you into Get Santa, the British family adventure that trades cheap gags for grounded charm, where a recently paroled dad and his young son hustle to save Christmas with grit, humor, and just enough magic to glow. From the first setup to the final sleigh dash, the film proves that familiar stories can still feel alive when performances click and the tone stays honest.
We dive into why Jim Broadbent’s Santa lands: a twinkle-in-the-eye portrayal with human edges that make the stakes feel real. We spotlight the supporting cast—Stephen Graham’s bite, Warwick Davis’s welcome presence, and Jodie Whittaker’s quiet impact—while exploring how the British flavor shapes the pacing and wit. No sugar overload here; the movie balances heart and humor without talking down to kids or nudging adults in the ribs. If you’ve ever wished holiday movies trusted you to be smart and sentimental at the same time, this one’s for your queue.
Expect clear content notes for parents (mild PG intensity, clean language, gentle peril), a look at the father–son arc as a blueprint for second chances, and a frank verdict on why rewatchable Christmas films don’t need to reinvent the sleigh to earn a spot in your rotation. We wrap with our ratings—5/5 for Christmas spirit, 4–4.5 overall—and a few next-watch teases for your festive lineup. If this review sparks a new favorite, share it with a friend, hit follow, and drop your most underrated holiday pick in a review so we can add it to the couch queue.
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On the couch we laugh and cry and feeling it all Breaking down the big screen, the hits and the flaw. Grab your seat press play, let's take the pick. Lights, camera, action, it's the couch critic.
SPEAKER_00:I have to go over the synopsis. After Santa Claus is arrested and jailed. A recently paroled prisoner and his young son attempt to save Christmas before it's too late. Get Santa stars Jim Broadbent, Rafa Spall, Kit Connor, Ewan Brimner, Warwick Davis, Stephen Graham, Joanna Scanlon, Jody Whitaker, and a bunch of other people. I wanted to name some of those other people because they weren't like the top cast list, because they're pretty well known. Warwick Davis, he was in Star Wars. He played the Leprechaun. He's pretty well known. Stephen Graham plays the barber in this movie. Stephen Graham is from the amazing Netflix miniseries Adolescence. He both directed and starred in that show. Jody Whitaker is known as one of the Doctor Who's. And of course, Jim Broadbent has been on Harry Potter. He was on Moulin Rouge. He was in the Paddington movies. He is a very well-known actor as well. So, like I said, I had never seen this movie before. Last episode with Mitch and Lexi, I did mention that I had watched or at least attempted to watch this movie before on a free Christmas movie app, but there was like a commercial every five seconds. So I never got through the whole thing. I'm really glad this movie is on this list. I actually thoroughly enjoyed this film. This is a British film, so you had it has the British accents going for it, which is one of the reasons I liked it. And also, it's just a really good story. It's a really fun, exciting at times, fun story. And the acting in this was really well done. It wasn't too over the top cheesy because it is a movie about, you know, Santa Claus and a father and son saving Christmas. But it was never overly cheesy. And I really appreciated that because, you know, kind of like with Elf, that movie at times can be very much overly cheesy. And this movie did a really good job at balancing the cheese and the humor and the family aspect and just all of the things. And I really, really did appreciate it. I will say that again, it's like many of the movies on this list. It's not something we haven't seen before. So the storyline is pretty familiar. So I gotta knock it down a little bit because of that. But overall, this movie was a really fun time. It really made me want to watch the whole thing. Obviously, I knew how the movie was going to end because, again, this kind of storyline has been done before many, many multiple times, but it was really fun to watch, and I really enjoyed it. And I would actually highly recommend it for families. It's a really fun family movie to watch. And so I really hope people take the time to watch it because it is just a really fun time. And Jim Brand Broadbent Brandbent Broadbent plays a really good Santa Claus. Like he is really good as the as Santa. And everyone, again, everyone in their characters did a really good job. Jody Whitaker isn't really in it that much. She plays the ex-wife of Steve, played by Rafa. Spaul. I'm probably saying his name wrong. But again, there's really nothing else I can say about this movie, is that it was a really fun time, really fun, family-friendly movie. There wasn't any real bad words in it. Santa goes to jail for a little bit, but even when he goes to jail, there's really nothing, there's really nothing wrong with this movie, content-wise. I think it's a pretty safe film. It's a pretty fun film. And again, I would highly recommend it. It is rated PG, so I'm sure there's something in it that you know gets the rated PG. And it's mostly according to IMDB, the reason it gets a PG rating is because of some slightly wordage that makes you think of alcohol. And there's like a little intense part in the movie. But other than that, I think this movie's pretty safe. And like I said, I'm really glad that some of these movies on this list are on this list because I would have never watched them before. And it really is fun to watch. I wanted to watch the whole thing. I'm glad I watched the whole thing. Go check out Get Santa. I would give Git Santa a five out of five for Christmas because it really does make you feel Christmas. It has a father-son working together, bonding to literally save Christmas. So five out of five right there. And general rating, I'd give it probably either a four or a four point five because it is a fun time. It's probably not everybody's cup of tea because again, this story has been told many times. But I think it was a fun time. Watch it, watch it with your family. Again, I don't think there's really anything bad in it. So check out Get Santa. That is my review for today. This cinema Saturday. I'm going to be doing the two movies I was going to do on my birthday, but it was my birthday, so I just took my birthday off. And I'm going to have a special guest critic to join me on the couch critic for Tron Ares. And then next Tuesday, we're taking on the Disney classic, Lady and the Tramp. And yes, I'm going to be watching the animated version. Sorry, politically correctness people out there. I'm watching the cartoon version of Lady and the Tramp on next Tuesday's Couch Critics. Where every movie gets its close-up.
SPEAKER_01:It's not just a movie, it's a wave of life. We'll watch it together. They are not settled in close and don't miss the this is the moment of the cast.
