Christmas movies and series are usually rather shallow and predictable. The majority of them follow strictly the glorious Hallmark movie tradition. This is not the case here! Understandably a Christmas short series is more than a bit on the comedy side, happy end included. This shouldn't mean, though, that such movies and series cannot touch delicate personal, family or social issues. They can and they should - they only need to keep everything in balance! And this is where Uber Weihnachten makes the difference and even excels. The series dares to touch sensitive issues like terminal illness, family savoir vivre, failed artistic aspirations as well as what it means to be gay in a small town and manages to handle all of them
In good ole Christmas spirit. Quite a feat, I should say! Excellent performances, fast pace and a remarkable sense of humor make everything believable and actually welcome.
If you are a fan of Christmas TV series and movies and also thirsty for a fresh approach to them, don't miss Uber Weihnachten!
20 Reviews
The end is... mehhhhh
filize050910 December 2020
Not bad
juddynz3 January 2021
I liked it to begin with and was happy to see it was filmed in Monschau where I've been. My brother took me there years ago when he lived nearby, and I would have recommended the series to him and others who were with me, but by the end it was a bit too sentimental and mediocre even for me.
(I swear Luke Mockridge looks like Chris O'Dowd.)
Real Christmas
mymeister13 November 2021
I liked this one. It had (1) somewhat different culture than the usual fare and (2) an after school special on growing up for the twenty somethings.
I liked how the family was drinking so much to mask uncomfortable feelings - just like real life families! I liked how they tried to shoehorn joy into past feast traditions when they would probably have more fun with new traditions - just like real life! I liked how all of the people were flawed - just like real life!
It was a real life Christmas that actually portrayed the reality of going back to your small hometown. You can have fun with friends, tolerate your family, start to feel the joy of becoming the responsible adult in the family, enjoy the feasting, and learn that gifts will always be mismatched. Also it shows the forced celebrations with a recipe of specific traditions (put forward by the mother in this instance) were not really the point of Christmas nor the source of joy. Communal celebrations and real friendships, conversations and support for family are more important.
I liked how the family was drinking so much to mask uncomfortable feelings - just like real life families! I liked how they tried to shoehorn joy into past feast traditions when they would probably have more fun with new traditions - just like real life! I liked how all of the people were flawed - just like real life!
It was a real life Christmas that actually portrayed the reality of going back to your small hometown. You can have fun with friends, tolerate your family, start to feel the joy of becoming the responsible adult in the family, enjoy the feasting, and learn that gifts will always be mismatched. Also it shows the forced celebrations with a recipe of specific traditions (put forward by the mother in this instance) were not really the point of Christmas nor the source of joy. Communal celebrations and real friendships, conversations and support for family are more important.
All I want for Chrismas is ...
kosmasp30 August 2021
Actually right now, I think the only thing I want has nothing to do with Christmas and I bet almost every person on this planet wants: the end of the pandemic and the restrictions. But let's not get political or into details, because if you don't like my review I hope it is because you don't like the review and not what my thoughts are on the pandemic.
That being said, it seems that doing tv shows/series is the thing to do right now. This could easily have been a movie and a bit shorter instead of a 3 part series. But what do I know right? Anyway well acted and quite the heroes journey (if you are lost, I just mean the main character and his discovery tour through the movie). Well acted and edited, this works quite nicely.
That being said, it seems that doing tv shows/series is the thing to do right now. This could easily have been a movie and a bit shorter instead of a 3 part series. But what do I know right? Anyway well acted and quite the heroes journey (if you are lost, I just mean the main character and his discovery tour through the movie). Well acted and edited, this works quite nicely.
Finally a Fresh Netflix Christmas Movie!
christinfj10 December 2020
Netflix seriously underestimates its audience at Christmas. I just can't get into the dozen or so Hallmark/Lifetime style movies they churn out every year... so formulaic and cheesy.
It was SUCH a refreshing change of pace to find a laugh out loud funny, heartwarming, and much more honest take on the holidays. Sure there were some predictable plot points, but in all I found the characters to be genuine and loved the escapist scenery.
It was SUCH a refreshing change of pace to find a laugh out loud funny, heartwarming, and much more honest take on the holidays. Sure there were some predictable plot points, but in all I found the characters to be genuine and loved the escapist scenery.
Great actors, interesting setting, weird story
snagzmom20 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Really fun to watch something German for a change. The last time I was there was in the 70's. I guess it must be set in one of the few old German villages that wasn't destroyed in the war, and it is really beautiful.
I haven't even finished the first show and will probably watch the rest, but it really put me off that the guy's brother is dating his ex. I guess that might be a spoiler for anybody who hasn't watched it at all. If it had been in the Netflix description, I wouldn't have watched it. I am not a prude but I just find that really hard to take in.
The grandmother is really funny. I would say it is still worth watching, allowing for cultural differences.
I haven't even finished the first show and will probably watch the rest, but it really put me off that the guy's brother is dating his ex. I guess that might be a spoiler for anybody who hasn't watched it at all. If it had been in the Netflix description, I wouldn't have watched it. I am not a prude but I just find that really hard to take in.
The grandmother is really funny. I would say it is still worth watching, allowing for cultural differences.
It's in dubbed English
raccles28 November 2020
Most unlikeable Main Character
joeraid9 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Movie was decent fare, with the exception of the main character, Bastian. He returns to his quaint small German town for Christmas and finds his brother has hooked up with his ex girlfriend. His character is basically a self centered, rude, no talent bully, but somehow he hooks up with his brothers old girlfriend. He outs his gay fiend in public, ruins his girlfriends business, spoils the holiday, makes everything about him, and at the end, all is mostly forgiven. In one day too! Serious?
Good for a distraction. Holiday time only.
Good for a distraction. Holiday time only.
Insanely surprised
kasimba16 December 2020
I'm not a real fan of Luke and got talked into watching this show by my wife. But boy was I happy about it. It's a light enjoyable tv show. It never gets to cheese. The family life is shown in a quite realistic way but what I find even more important is the way that our jelousy works is shown pretty good and how we can get lost in unimportant stuff without noticing that we are the ones limiting ourselfs and not the others.
Another Christmas movie about a POS loser
calebcalebwhitney5 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I watched the first episode thinking the characters were speaking with unintelligible accents until my grandma came in and asked me what the movie was about and I told her I don't know, I can't understand what they're saying. She pointed out that they were speaking German and we figured out how to use the remote control to make them start speaking English. Honestly, I liked the movie better when I couldn't understand the dialogue.
This is a beautifully filmed story about a selfish, childish loser who goes home to ruin everyone's Christmas. You'll love most of the characters as they're interesting and likable and you want them to be happy at Christmastime. But you'll resent the film when it allows good things to happen for the main character, because you hate him. The actor, Luke Mockridge does a good job but his Bastian character is an awful person, a complete POS with no redeeming value. The location shots are charming and there are some fun moments, but overall it's a worthless story about mental illness and other boring stuff I don't even remember, and the music makes you want to vomit. Here are the spoilers:
Bastian outs his gay friend in public, goes on stage in front of hundreds of people and using a microphone, brags about banging Karina and then tells everyone that his dad has cancer, then tells everyone in the crowd that they're idiots. So yeah, the dad has cancer and the Bastian character is, sadly, perfectly healthy. If there is a gott in himmel they'll make a 4th episode where Bastian takes a toaster into the bathtub and the dad and everyone else can enjoy a nice holiday.
I had to rage-kick my television off the wall after watching this stupid movie. Wear solid boots if you plan to watch it because you'll need to kick down your TV too. And remember when that happens that I told you so. Not that I'm one to say I told you so, but if you read the previous paragraphs you'll see that I did tell you so.
This is a beautifully filmed story about a selfish, childish loser who goes home to ruin everyone's Christmas. You'll love most of the characters as they're interesting and likable and you want them to be happy at Christmastime. But you'll resent the film when it allows good things to happen for the main character, because you hate him. The actor, Luke Mockridge does a good job but his Bastian character is an awful person, a complete POS with no redeeming value. The location shots are charming and there are some fun moments, but overall it's a worthless story about mental illness and other boring stuff I don't even remember, and the music makes you want to vomit. Here are the spoilers:
Bastian outs his gay friend in public, goes on stage in front of hundreds of people and using a microphone, brags about banging Karina and then tells everyone that his dad has cancer, then tells everyone in the crowd that they're idiots. So yeah, the dad has cancer and the Bastian character is, sadly, perfectly healthy. If there is a gott in himmel they'll make a 4th episode where Bastian takes a toaster into the bathtub and the dad and everyone else can enjoy a nice holiday.
I had to rage-kick my television off the wall after watching this stupid movie. Wear solid boots if you plan to watch it because you'll need to kick down your TV too. And remember when that happens that I told you so. Not that I'm one to say I told you so, but if you read the previous paragraphs you'll see that I did tell you so.
Refreshing Christmas laughs
samkhatunemail14 December 2020
I was pleasantly surprised. Funny, Christmassy and cheesy, but not saccharine to the point of feeling like you are on the verge of a diabetic coma. Captures family life over the holidays so well, definitely worth a watch.
Better than the typical and predictable Xmas romcoms
mollyluvzeggwaffle21 December 2020
It is pretty refreshing to see something different on netflix themed during the christmas time. It is enjoyble to watch without too much eyes rolling for some scenes being too cliche. Good sarcasms throughout the series, but still ends in a positive, cheesey note which it is still christmas themes series/show afterall.
Rushed ending
pptanymar9 September 2021
This show is enjoyable and light, a real joy to watch -that is - up until the last episode. The last episode is rushed into an unexpected, stretched out thin "feel good" ending, a completely made up story that doesn't really fit into the tale or make sense for the characters. As a result the show has no real meaning, no purpose, because it fails to show the characters evolution. Its really sad because the story was clearly going somewhere.
Unique Christmas fare....
Franklie20 December 2020
Echoes of 'Dan In Real Life', 'What We Did On Our Holidays', and 'Home For The Holidays', all of which are practically perfect love.
Voice overs done fairly well, but the translators have GOT to return to using 'damn' and 'hell' rather than vocab that is disgusting, especially at Christmas. We just don't need that imagery.
The relationships and situations are tough to watch and grandma's crudeness was overdone, so didn't come off as funny.
The one and only Black character was stereotypical. Sad.
BUT... We loved being in a beautiful German village for a few hours. Loved the multi-episode form. Loved the messages. Loved the imagined scenarios.
Voice overs done fairly well, but the translators have GOT to return to using 'damn' and 'hell' rather than vocab that is disgusting, especially at Christmas. We just don't need that imagery.
The relationships and situations are tough to watch and grandma's crudeness was overdone, so didn't come off as funny.
The one and only Black character was stereotypical. Sad.
BUT... We loved being in a beautiful German village for a few hours. Loved the multi-episode form. Loved the messages. Loved the imagined scenarios.
Not a Worthy Christmas Story
wruzek-0570129 November 2023
This is not a legitimate Christmas story. The story-line is fine, German town setting alluring, English dubbing well-done, most acting very good although the lead is over-the-top. Agreed, the lead is a Scrooge-like character but Scrooge has nothing on the lead in this one and his redemption was underwhelming.
My wife and I stayed with it in spite of foul language, especially from the grandmother character. We weathered the nude scene and all the sexual scenes and references.
However, just before the climax in the 3rd episode something terrible happened. There was a glaring shout of blasphemy that ruined the entire story for us. Why was this necessary in a CHRISTmas movie?
My wife and I stayed with it in spite of foul language, especially from the grandmother character. We weathered the nude scene and all the sexual scenes and references.
However, just before the climax in the 3rd episode something terrible happened. There was a glaring shout of blasphemy that ruined the entire story for us. Why was this necessary in a CHRISTmas movie?
Seyneb Saleh and Luke Mockridge
hansearth1 December 2020
Seyneb Saleh and Luke Mockridge, both actors have a lot potention. i like very much seen these 2, 2gether. In another show, another genry or whatever they would be a golden couple. hope C more of Seyneb Saleh and Luke Mockridge. Gute weinachten !
A great movie with a nice view of Christmas
vittorio-1317 December 2020
I really enjoyed this movie. The dubbing was good and overall a great story. 3 epoxied only and highly recommend it. While this may not be a family movie it's a great Christmas movie. Plus you get to see a nice village in Germany
Not what you want in a Christmas movie
wruzek7 December 2023
To me, this is not a legitimate Christmas story. The story-line is fine, the German town setting alluring, English dubbing well-done, most acting very good although the lead is not very likable even at his redemption. Agreed, he's a Scrooge-type character but Scrooge is not nearly as mean as he.
My wife and I stayed with it in spite of the foul language, especially from the grandmother character. We weathered the brief nude scene and all the sexual references.
However, just before the climax in the 3rd episode something terrible happened. There was a glaring shout of blasphemy that ruined the entire story for us. Why was this necessary in a CHRISTmas movie?
My wife and I stayed with it in spite of the foul language, especially from the grandmother character. We weathered the brief nude scene and all the sexual references.
However, just before the climax in the 3rd episode something terrible happened. There was a glaring shout of blasphemy that ruined the entire story for us. Why was this necessary in a CHRISTmas movie?
Heartwarming story, beautiful village, and lovely music
shiniike29 December 2020
I really enjoyed this. It was funny but heartfelt. The shots of the village it took place in were beautiful. Lots of cobblestone streets and little bakeries, you really felt like you were watching a very close, small town enjoy Christmas. I loved all the songs in it too, I thought the music scenes were very well done. My one complaint was that I felt like the main character Bastian was quite immature and hurtful to people at times, but nobody's perfect so this may be more a flaw in his character than a flaw in the movie.
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