Love Always, Santa (2016)

An Exercise In Nonsense

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The story revolves around a girl of 8 who has lost her father, so writes to Santa about her concerns and the wish for her mother to smile again. Having handed the letter to the postman it finds its way to Santa Inc., run by two charming but eccentric older ladies. It just so happens that a young, successful writer is assisting Santa Inc. responding to children's wishes in an effort to rekindle his enthusiasm for writing after a bitter divorce. Being flooded with material wishes, he is touched by the letter expressing matters of the heart, so responds equally in a way to give hope. From here it opens the possibility to deal with loss and relationships in a lighthearted but sensitive way that engages the viewer in a clever little story.You have to listen very carefully to what is being said. The writer has captured important emotions and spun them into interesting messages. Even those characters who may seem boorish, surprise you with simple home spun wisdom's. Having watched the film more than once, you can't help developing a warmth for all the characters, from young to old. The story is simple and straightforward, therefore method acting is not called for and all those appearing seem to be in the right place.I think that when the 'end of shooting' party occurred they hadn't quite finished. After the effort of constructing a thoughtful story they rolled out of the party and scripted a slightly bizarre conclusion. The actors took it in good spirit, so it doesn't detract too much from your enjoyment.Conclusion: 8.0 Xmas points, for a warm and enjoyable film with a small deduction for the lost opportunity at the end.

The letters between the two leading characters was very effective in establishing their character and their relationship. This was the best part of the movie and it was well done. The things they said to each other were very memorable and the movie should be watched just for that. The little girl was precious and contributed greatly to the success. I would guess the movie was pretty low budget and that did hurt its appeal. I spent most of the movie wondering if it was a foreign film that they just dubbed over the voices. Seemed the sound track was just a bit off to me. My family did not notice that and they liked it. We had real snow. I was not quite sure why the man was answering letters from Santa.

Okay, I am a chauvinist pig and proud of it. I was having a moment of weakness and watched this movie. Fearing the worst, my heart instantly melted watching the plot unfold.It is about a divorced man who receives a letter from a girl and her mother. And one thing leads to another and they want to know if it is meant to be. All the characters are very likable and if you want to watch a family movie, with romance and good natured fun, give this a look. The acting was pretty good and the plot is something that everyone can enjoy.I give it a 9 out of 10 and it will make you happy.

Above-average casting for a Hallmark movie, and a subject matter that is somewhat reminiscent of their excellent "The Christmas Card". The only technical flaw I found was the ending, and that snowmobile, but it's a minor quibble compared to the enjoyable story and characters worth rooting for. Basically, the story introduces us to a young girl, Lily, who writes to Santa, describing the effect that her father's death has had on her and her mom. Mom reads the reply from "Santa" and is moved to write back and a heartfelt connection between the two soon ensues. "Santa" wants to find out the real person behind the letters and, of course, neglects to share the fact that he is the "Santa" behind the letters. A happy ending, an abandoned snowmobile and a pleasant two hours - what more could one ask for?