My Santa (2013)

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

When I first watch this movie, I thought that this is just another Christmas movie... But I was wrong. I found that it catch my interest when Jen who doesn't believe in Christmas (because of past trauma) met someone that revive her Christmas spirit. I just like the scene when Chris offer job to Mr. Johnson and it seems like we can feel how excited he is when he get a job to support his family in the eve of Christmas. The happiness... The united family... I believe that whoever read my review may think that I just too 'imagine' about this while it may be just a fantasy that may not be true in real life. But when we look back at this movie, I feel that it give a signal that we should be close to family, no matter hardship that we have to go through, or maybe when we feel disappointed, do not give up. There's always thing that will make you happy someday. Maybe most of the reviewers might said that this is type of cliché movie, same storyline or whatever, but whatever it is, this movie has its own value that I salute!

Single mom Samaire Armstrong, who has lost her Christmas spirit, finds herself drawn to nice, kind department store Santa/Christmas tree lot owner Matthew Lawrence, who also happens to be the son of the real Santa. In addition to their (very) slowly bubbling romance, we have subplots involving Samaire's son wanting some toy for Christmas she can't find, her hunky co-worker expressing an interest in her romantically and professionally, and Matthew's deadline to find a wife by Christmas so he can take over for dad. All this plus Julie Brown stealing every scene she's in as Samaire's horny friend. Horny in a wholesome TV movie sort of way, that is.This is a pretty silly movie I admit. If you go into it with your serious face on, you'll almost surely think it's crap and turn it off quickly. But it's actually not a bad watch if you give it a shot. Even its weaknesses work in its favor. For example, the highlight of the movie for me were these two unintentionally hilarious back-to-back scenes just over an hour in (with commercials). The first has Samaire accompanying Matthew as he goes to visit a family in need. This family is very corny and whitebread in every way you can imagine. The dad is this stiff-backed, sweater-wearing creepo with a monotone voice who talks about being out of work, his kids going without Christmas presents, and relying on Church charity to get by with a weird smile on his face. He comes across like he might be a serial killer. The kids are two of the worst little actors you'll ever see. The mom burns the turkey and the actress plays the scene like an Emmy win was a foregone conclusion. They appear to have filmed the scene in someone's actual house so the whole thing looks and feels cheap. This is followed by a howler of a scene where Samaire recounts why she isn't big on Christmas. You see, her husband left her on Christmas Eve. I won't spoil why but let's just say don't drink anything while you're watching this scene or you'll spit it out for sure. The guy playing her husband is like a gay Andy Capp! He's really a terrible actor. I defy anyone to watch this without laughing your tail off. Speaking of bad actors, the guy playing the other potential love interest for our heroine looks like a model and acts like a mannequin.These two scenes are really bad but also so much fun to watch. So yeah there are a lot of moments in this that are unintentionally funny, and the rest of it is very dumb if you take it at face value. But it's got heart and the two leads have a likability about them that helps them rise above the material and their limited acting talents. That ending is unbelievably corny, too, but damned if it didn't make me smile. The biggest negative I would have against this is that it's criminal how wasted Paul Dooley is in a minor supporting role.

the Christmas spirit saves all. the mediocre films, the social relations, the holidays. and that film who could be a lovely fairy- tale, not special but enough nice for a comfortable evening. love, miracle, a child and a change. good ingredients for an adventures without great ambitions. a film about family and that could not be a surprise. interesting, maybe seductive for the fans of Samaire Armstrong and Matthew Lawrence - not the best choice for the lead character but that is only a detail. film for a holiday, it has all sins and virtues of genre. soup for soul, pink poetry, common and not brilliant. but useful for celebrate, in a not great manner, the joy of the Birth of Jesus.

This movie is moving and at times made my cry, very touching. At first, going by the title of the movie, thought it was going to be one of those empty, sappy movies, but I was wrong, glad I was, too!It really gets you into the Christmas spirit. I saved the movie on disk as it was that good. I don't usually save movies, but made an exception with this one. It's so special.ION TV always has the best Christmas movies, I look forward to them every year!I recommend this movie for the family to watch. It's a real feel-good Christmas movie.