12 Reviews of Christmas - Big Time Rush: Big Time Christmas (2010)

        Hey guys, Chuck here, and we're back with more 12 Reviews of Christmas. For those who are unaware, Big Time Rush was a Nickelodeon sitcom focused on four teenage boys from Minnesota who wind up working with music producer Gustavo Rocque to form a boy band called Big Time Rush. In addition, the four actors playing the fictional band Big Time Rush performed together as Big Time Rush in real life, even recording a few albums together. And, in the show's second season, Big Time Rush had a Christmas special titled Big Time Christmas. 

      So, it's Christmas time, and Big Time Rush is preparing to return home to Minnesota for Christmas, along with Kendall's mother and sister, both of whom moved into the Palm Woods in Los Angeles with the boys. Gustavo, meanwhile, is planning a Christmas trip to Fiji. But, things are derailed as Gustavo's boss, Griffin, wants Big Time Rush to record a Christmas E.P. to sell online. So, Big Time Rush and Gustavo have a few hours to record three songs, and make their respective flights. 

        Mrs. Knight and Katie, meanwhile, already trying to pack for the flight to Minnesota, while Palm Woods manager Mr. Bitters is suffering from the holiday blues, as so many Palm Woods residents leave for the Christmas holiday, leaving him all alone. Which is why he rarely, if ever, decorates for Christmas. Katie decides to make it her mission to live. Bitters' spirits and spread the joy of Christmas to him, to almost no avail. As for Mrs. Knight, she tries desperately to pack all of their clothes and Christmas presents in as few suitcases as possible, as to avoid paying extra for additional luggage. But, it all comes apart, as the bags are too overstuffed. Oops. 

        Back to the boys, let's just say that Gustavo is contemplating having to write and record three Christmas songs in a matter of hours. However, his assistant Kelly mentions how his biggest selling hit, "Yard Squirrel Christmas," was written in five minutes. But, Gustavo mentions how it was "a stupid novelty song with sped-up voices" that he hates being famous for. Obviously, "Yard Squirrel Christmas" is a nod to the Alvin and the Chipmunks song "Christmas Don't be Late." But, with help from the boys, Gustavo writes and records the first song "Beautiful Christmas." And, to be honest, it's a really fun and upbeat holiday jingle. And, while the song plays, we see Gustavo, Kelly, and the boys nab a bunch of decorations from other offices.in the building and decorate the studio with them, making the place more festive. With "Beautiful Christmas" in the can, Griffin is mostly satisfied. However, he insists the next two songs need to have celebrity musical guests. 

        So, who to get? Well, it takes some difficulty getting to her, but the boys learn that Miranda Cosgrove is filming a live Christmas special not too far away. The boys manage to get past security, and they convince Miranda to let them perform with them instead of Fabio, who the boys had a past run-in with. Miranda thinks that the boys are pretty cute, and agrees. And, we see Miranda and Big Time Rush perform a cover of the Mariah Carey song "All I Want for Christmas is You," and it's certainly my favorite cover of one of the most popular and overplayed Christmas songs of the last few decades. Kelly and Gustavo record the song, leaving one more to go. Outside of the studio where Miranda's special was being taped, Gustavo is accidentally hit by a limo...with Snoop Dogg as a passenger. 

        So, Kelly, the boys, and an injured Gustavo bring Snoop back with them to the studio to record the last song for the E.P. At first, they record a new take on "The Twelve Days of Christmas." And, while it's certainly fun, it's not enough for Griffin, as he mentions that Justin Bieber and 50 Cent recorded an even longer song called "Fifty Days of Christmas." Dear God. Anyway, things start going south, as Snoop mentions he has less than an hour to get to his grandmother's house for Christmas. And, we're reminded of Gustavo's biggest hit, "Yard Squirrel Christmas," and how quickly he wrote it. And Snoop looks at Gustavo and remarks "That was you? Man, that song cracked me up." But, the boys mess with the pitch fader, making themselves sound like the Yard Squirrels, which gives Gustavo an idea for a song. The boys, sounding like the Yard Squirrels, sing about staying in their pajamas all Christmas long (a nod to a running gag about getting Gustavo to wear the pajamas the boys got him for Christmas), while Snoop mentions needing to get to Grandma's. The song is accompanied by an animated video, which is cool. Back in the studio, Griffin is satisfied, Snoop hurries to his grandmother's, and the boys hurry to the Palm Woods. 

        Unfortunately, a blizzard back East has made flying into Minnesota impossible. So, the boys, Mrs. Knight, and Katie decide to spend Christmas at the Palm Woods, even setting up decorations from their place in the lobby, and sharing their Christmas with Bitters, which raises his spirits. But, that's not all, as Gustavo skipped out on his Fiji trip, deciding to spend Christmas with the boys, and also wearing the pajamas the boys got him for Christmas, and he brings his cooking staff along for a filling Christmas feast. 

         As someone who is a fan of Big Time Rush, both the band and the sitcom, I thoroughly enjoyed Big Time Christmas. Was the special merely a plug for the real life Big Time Rush Christmas E.P. that was released at the time? Yeah. But, that didn't make it any less entertaining. For instance, the means on attempts that the boys, Gustavo, and Kelly went through to get onto the set for Miranda Cosgrove's Christmas special was hilarious, and I cracked up when the guard finally gave them an opportunity to get past him. Speaking of which, having Miranda Cosgrove, Fabio, and Snoop Dogg as special guests for this particular Christmas special was a lot of fun, with my personal favorite probably being Snoop. 

        The main cast of Big Time Rush were fantastic, as well. The main foursome of Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Logan Henderson, and Carlos Pena Jr. were all phenomenal as their fictitious counterparts of Kendall Knight, James Diamond, Logan Mitchell, and Carlos Garcia. Both Stephen Kramer Glickman and Tanya Chisholm as Gustavo and Kelly were as hilarious as ever, while both Ciara Bravo as Katie and Challen Cates as Mrs. Knight were great with the B-plot of the special. 

        Overall, this is one of the more fun Christmas specials released by Nickelodeon. Definitely one that, in my mind, is worth checking out for the Christmas holiday on Paramount+. I'm giving Big Time Rush: Big Time Christmas a rating of 5/5. 

         Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and 12 Reviews of Christmas will be back tomorrow with SpongeBob and Sandy's Country Christmas.