A California Christmas: City Lights

Between the constant churn of new releases, A California Christmas: City Lights in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix is the comedy actually worth stopping for. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Lauren Swickard leads a cast with real comic timing. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

There is a reason A California Christmas: City Lights keeps coming up in conversation. A California Christmas: City Lights does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Follows Callie and Joseph one year after they fell in love, now running a dairy farm and winery, but their romance is threatened when business and family obligations call Joseph back to the city. Lauren Swickard and Josh Swickard lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It hit screens in 2021. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and A California Christmas: City Lights holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, A California Christmas: City Lights respects your intelligence. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Lauren Swickard anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.

A California Christmas: City Lights was released in 2021, directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino. The full 105-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.