All aboard for this festive fancy set aboard a time-jumping locomotive bound for wintery Nottingham on Christmas Eve. Michael Sheen shines in the lead as troubled nightclub owner Tony Towers in a film that, while not achieving classic Christmas movie status, is largely enjoyable throughout and might just have you reaching for the happy hankies as it pulls into its final destination.
It is safe to say that making a memorable Christmas movie is no easy task, and with Netflix leading the way in recent years with the likes of The Christmas Chronicles and its sequel and indeed all of those Vanessa Hudgens ‘Princess Switch’ movies – which we do have a soft spot for, it’s hard to think of another streamer to compete. Step in Sky who unleashes Last Train To Christmas, a time-traveling comedy/drama that is hard not to get sucked in by with its high-concept plot device and likable characters, not least Sheen’s hapless nightclub owner Tony Towers who is trying to get home to Nottingham one Christmas Eve.
Initially, we meet Tony in 1985 – a loose little Back To The Future nod with that fact alone – boarding the train with his girlfriend Sue (Nathalie Emmanuel), to whom he has just got engaged. Also with them is Tony’s brother Roger (a scene-stealing Cary Elwes), who is also set for the same destination. The unique thing about this train, though, is the fact that Tony can jump through time as he moves forwards and backward through the carriages, something he initially discovers as he heads up the train after boarding to retrieve a bottle of champagne.
Altering the future simply by interacting with the past, Tony discovers he is playing with fire, subtle changes making huge differences to his future life – often for the worse rather than anything better. The film charts the eventful journey of the locomotive, the titular ‘Last Train To Christmas’ where Tony must navigate the potentially damaging journey that will not only affect him but those closest to him.
If you were to mash up Back To The Future, Quantum Leap, and an Only Fools and Horses festive special, you might be somewhere near the flavour of Last Train To Christmas. There are tons of hidden nuggets of British culture scattered about – from the branded portable cassette players, the NOW music compilation albums, nods to British TV of the ’80s, and more. There’s even an appearance from Bless This House and ‘Confessions’ actor Robin Askwith as a TV commercial director for added nostalgia, who is brilliant.
The entire cast is as good. Sheen is excellent as Tony, as is Nathalie Emmanuel, though it is actually Cary Elwes who steals the show as Roger – the role is not like anything you’ve seen the actor do before. He is superb in every scene and worth the subscription alone.
It’s also inventive in terms of its presentation, the aspect ratio and ‘film stock’ changing throughout; from a 4:3 video look to the ’80s, to a wonderful black and white segment later on, complete with full-on orchestra accompaniment to give it the feel of a ’40s matinee feature. This adds to the watchability of it all, and while one can be more forgiving for films set and released at Christmas, there is a lot to like without the festive backdrop.
There is potential to have taken things further, though, some of the central time-traveling plot device perhaps not completely taken advantage of. I was left wanting more from it, which in itself is probably no bad thing, either.
All in all, though, a journey worth taking with a bunch of characters you’ll enjoy spending time with. A surprising, feel-good Christmas cracker.
Last Train To Christmas
Summary
A solid festive film with an absolute cracker of a plot device that should delight audiences of most ages.
Last Train to Christmas is released on Sky Cinema and on streaming service NOW via the Sky Cinema Membership from 18 December.
