Based on the
books by David Walliams, these two hour-long adaptations are not directly
related to the holidays despite the conveniently titled package. “A Very Funny
Christmas” merely contains two adaptations of stories by Walliams that happen
to take place during the holidays. The irreverently imaginative children’s
narratives could easily be watched any time of the year, but packaging them
this way enhances the timeliness of the stories and sets the DVD up for holiday
purchases.
The first of
these unrelated narratives is the magical tale of Mr. Stink (Hugh Bonneville),
a ripe-smelling homeless man with special abilities and a unique way of looking
at life. Teaching her politically-aspiring mother a lesson in kindness, young
outcast Chloe (Nell Tiger Free) invites the smelly old homeless man to live in
her family’s shed over the holidays. His unique perspective on life quickly
spreads, making him something of a local hero and culminating in a visit with
the prime minister (played by Walliams himself).
The second
narrative in this collection is “Gangsta Granny,” which follows a young boy’s
discovery of his grandmother’s secret life. Forced to visit his grandmother
(Julia McKenzie) every Friday that his parents (Walliams and Miranda Hart) go
out ballroom dancing, Ben (Reece Buttery) is bored with the routine of cabbage
soup until he discovers his grandmother’s secret life as a jewel thief. This
discovery makes visiting Granny much more exciting, especially when they pair
up on a mission to steal the crown jewels together.
The DVD extras
include a few featurettes, including a behind-the-scenes look at “Gangsta
Granny” and Walliams discussing “Mr. Stink.” There is also an additional
bio-featurette on Walliams, actor and writer.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6/10
Historical
Significance: 5/10
Special Features: 5/10
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