How Bob Dylan stole Christmas and made himself the crotchety elf-in-chief

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Independent critic Clarisse Loughrey felt the film plays it too safe, calling it “dutiful work” but arguing “dutiful doesn’t really cut it with Dylan”. It didn’t happen that way, but it could have.” open image in gallery Sleigh lady sleigh: Bob Dylan gets into the festive spirit While there are no sleigh bells to be heard on the soundtrack, and no scenes of Chalamet and co-star Elle Fanning nuzzling under the mistletoe, there’s something fitting about the fact that the film will be released in the US on Christmas Day. He also took the time to reflect on the 17th-century British parliament’s attempt to abolish Christmas in 1647, reassuring listeners that: “Here on Theme Time Radio Hour we like to celebrate Christmas year-round, no matter what Oliver Cromwell thinks.” Dylan cemented his status as a Christmas staple three years later with the release of Christmas in the Heart, an album that drew baffled scepticism from critics when it was first announced. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial Sign up open image in gallery Bob Dylan with Santa Claus in the ‘Must Be Santa’ music video While some had initially treated the album as a joke and assumed Dylan would too, in fact, he plays the songs without a hint of irony.