Here’s what Mariah Carey’s new Christmas movie — and the holidays — mean for her

There’s a chill in the air, the days are getting shorter, and all the pumpkins have been packed away for the year — so you know what that means. It’s almost Christmas time.

While we’re still a month and a half away from the holiday, there’s no time like the present to start getting into the spirit of the season. And, there’s no better way to do that then by picking up what is soon to become a staple in your Christmas movie rotation. Mariah Carey is releasing a brand new movie, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You. The movie is based on Carey’s book by the same name which is, unmistakably, based on the iconic song of the same name.

However, with this itineration, the “you” in the “all I want for Christmas is you” is about a puppy. The story follows (a fictional) Little Mariah, who wants nothing more than a puppy for Christmas — specifically, a perfect little puppy named Princess. However, she gets more than she bargained for when she’s tasked to watch over her Uncle’s dog, Jack…who is kind of a little puppy terror.

But because this is a feel-good movie, obviously the story has a happy ending. All dogs are good dogs — especially during the holidays.

"The puppy is almost a metaphor just for the love, the unconditional love that animals can give," Carey explained during a press day for the movie. "That's something from when I was a little girl that I always felt like with pets. It's not just about a dog or a cat or anything like that, it's love and it's a universal topic."

Being able to bring that feeling of love and Christmas together was something the singer was really excited to do.

"I'm just somebody that loves Christmas, and you know we have a Christmas movie to go with the...Christmas song. I'm just thankful for ["All I Want for Christmas Is You"] because as a songwriter it's a gift when you receive something like that, so to be able to share it with the world is something that I'm very proud of."

As for the Christmas movies Carey already watches every year, she cites A Wonderful Life, Miracle On 34th Street and, the one “with Santa Claus and the little boy that wants to be a dentist” — aka Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. But movies aren’t the *most* important part of the season.

"I try to bring...these traditions and things that we like to do at the holidays. I think it's just because when I was growing up, I wanted to have like this picture perfect Christmas, and really it's the spirit that matters the most, and so that's what I'm looking forward to."

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital November 14th.