If there’s one factor that the finest streaming companies are missing, its vacation selection specials with singing, costume adjustments, comedy sketches and superstar visitors – enter Sabrina Carpenter and A Nonsense Christmas. When Netflix introduced the vacation music selection particular, I instantly posted it within the group chat I share with my closest mates and being the Sabrina tremendous stans that we’re, our reactions have been a bit of greater than excited.
The 50-minute Netflix particular (launched on December 6) is the proper hybrid of SNL and I Love Lucy, paying homage to American comedy of the previous and current – with twice the superstar visitors and costume adjustments. However beneath the cheeky innuendos and festive musical numbers is a contemporary bona fide pop star with a knack for internet hosting and making you’re feeling welcomed, which is why A Nonsense Christmas is definitely one of many new finest Netflix exhibits for me.
It is tough to slim down the highlights of Carpenter’s Netflix Christmas particular, however that is why you’ve gotten me. And after watching it twice and preventing the temptation to return in for spherical three, there are 5 moments from A Nonsense Christmas which have caught with me since watching. Every of them displays not solely Netflix’s good facet in terms of its Christmas content material, however highlights Sabrina Carpenter’s stature as one of many largest rising pop artists proper now.
The Nineteen Fifties-style industrial segments
Proper off the bat, Sabrina Carpenter attracts us in with a whimsical industrial break-like scene proper earlier than her first musical visitor takes to the stage. It actually packs the campy contact we have come to know and love with mid-Twentieth century TV advertisements, zooming in on a small retro TV set giving the impression of a basic industrial, exhibiting Carpenter fixing up an espresso martini with Kahlua and Absolut Vodka, all whereas resisting the urge to reference her tune ‘Espresso’.
Proper earlier than her duet with Shania Twain to Eartha Kitt’s ‘Santa Child’, Carpenter returns to her set kitchen for some festive baking flaunting a field of Betty Crocker yellow cake combine. Not since Girl Gaga and Beyoncé’s music video for ‘Phone’ have I ever seen this a lot product placement in such a brief time frame.
Honoring George Michael with Chappell Roan
Carpenter’s line-up of superstar musical visitors was nothing lower than spectacular, kicking off the Christmas particular with a duet to ‘This Christmas’ with Tyla, adopted by appearances from Shania Twain and Kali Uchis. However the stand-out musical efficiency was when Sabrina walked out with fellow rising pop woman Chappell Roan.
Stepping out right into a lounge that seems to have reaped the aftermath of a Christmas home get together, the 2 jam out karaoke-style to a tune match just for somebody of Chappell Roan’s queer stature – ‘Final Christmas’ by Wham. Its revamped dream-pop association is magical to look at, and their vocal pairing makes it one of the best musical duet of your entire Christmas particular. If he have been nonetheless with us, George Michael would’ve given the most important stamp of approval.
Skits match for SNL
In between the whimsy and campiness that is clearly impressed by sitcoms like I Love Lucy, Carpenter is a pleasure to look at within the sketches – every referential in their very own respect whereas packing comedic parody parts. They really feel very acquainted, and will’ve simply been conjured within the SNL writers room.
Very similar to a daily SNL present, A Nonsense Christmas has all of the peaks and valleys you could possibly need from a comedy sketch present starting with a scene the place Carpenter’s mates meet her new ‘boyfriend’ – who occurs to be Santa Claus himself. After a scene the place she sings about what current to get her brother-in-law over a generic lure beat with a vocoder, Carpenter parodies the Christmas ghosts from A Christmas Carol, however rebranded to ‘spirits of ghosted’ who confront an ex-boyfriend. It is very Gen-Z, and I find it irresistible.
Costume adjustments you could not depend on each arms
It would not be a basic music selection particular and not using a good costume change, or 12. Opening the particular stood on high of a tiered platform, Sabrina Carpenter embodies basic Marilyn Monroe proving as soon as once more that diamonds are in reality a lady’s finest buddy. However that is just the start.
Her nod to Monroe solely scratches the floor of the catalog of appears, probably the most memorable being the Bob Mackie-inspired tassel quantity she wears in her duet with Tyla. However similar to her comedy sketches, Carpenter provides peaks and valleys along with her outfits with the extra informal sweater and skirt pairings – however even then she’s nonetheless standing tall in platforms, with which she has turn out to be synonymous.
A show-vibrating finale
Sabrina Carpenter’s excessive power and vacation cheer is filtered all through her Netflix selection particular till the final minute. With that stated, I would argue that the present’s finale is essentially the most charming a part of A Nonsense Christmas.
Returning to the tiered platform on which she opened the variability particular, Carpenter absolutely is aware of how you can exit with a bang in essentially the most festive manner attainable. Snow begins falling, dancers are decked in pink and white Santa outfits, and Carpenter takes to the mic to carry out a Christmas remix of her tune ‘Nonsense’. Boding farewell to the viewers, her dancer kindly arms Carpenter a gift-wrapped field seemingly containing a ‘massager’. I imply, it would not be Christmas and not using a good previous reward alternate.
