My Santa

I would of given this more stars, but I'm deducting for the sheer and blatant lack of diversity. Do better next time. Shameful.

My Santa (2013) -

It's a sweet story, but it's very treacly and some of the actors were far too over the top. It contained some cute moments and had a nice Christmas vibe to it, although it did suggest that only seeing was believing, which we all know isn't how Father Christmas works.

'Mrs Doubtfire's' (1993) son (Matthew Lawrence) grew up to be a very handsome young chap, playing the lead male in this film, Chris, although it was hard to believe him as a mall Santa, because he was still so young and baby faced. However, he did have a spark about him that could make you believe in magic.

Samaire Armstrong, as Jen however, was just a bit whiney and not the best Mum if I'm honest, although the kid seemed to like her, jumping up every time she walked in the room and hugging her.

I personally thought that Chris could do better.

It wasn't one of those with that special something that makes me want to watch it every year, but I wouldn't turn it off. It did what it set out to do and wasn't offensive in any way.

5.5/10.

I loved Samaire Armstrong in Heavenly Match in which she played an Episcopal Priest and she did not disappoint in this one. She was adorable and a nice match with Mathew Lawrence, who was also well cast in this movie. I usually do not like Santa's offspring themed movies, but this one was the exception to the rule. I loved Mathew's sweet innocence as Santa's son who has to find a wife by Christmas. Yes, it's pretty formulaic as all these are, but the slow burn romance was sweet, and the scene where Jen, our single mother heroine was finally convinced he was on the level was touching.

I don't know what fuse this movie lit under Christmas "I Have no agenda" Reviewer, but to call this the worst Christmas movie this year?? To nitpick address numbers and the expensive homes the characters live in? I've never seen a Hallmarkesque movie that the homes weren't way too much for the probable income of the occupants. I challenge anyone to offer an example where the home matched their income level. To say that cute Samaire Armstrong looks 10 years older than Mathew Lawrence when she is almost a year younger in real life? Come on. Since Lawrence looks about 18 in this movie there are very few adult actresses who wouldn't look older .Except this actress doesn't in my opinion. To call the little kid actor, who was perfectly competent "creepy" and like "Chucky? " Steady the machete. Pick on someone your own size, lady.

This story is based on Kris actually being Kris Kringle, Jr., the future Santa Claus. He needs to find the "right one" for a wife before Christmas. Once we establish this for a premise, judging the movie in terms of any sense of reality is moot. In addition, the movie leans a bit toward appealing to kids, so juvenile themes will probably be a part of it.

Jen was deeply wounded by something from a Christmas Eve years ago. We learn what it was toward the latter half, so I won't specify. Jen is going to be slow to trust, slow to believe and slow to have the Christmas spirit. Yet after spending time with Kris, well that's not hard to predict. I thought Samaire Armstrong and Matthew Lawrence had chemistry even if it developed pretty suddenly.

There is definitely some inconsistency in the acting, even among the leads. Trouble is that it is kind of like comparing TV acting to stage acting , or in this case an adult rom/com to one aimed at younger ages. Acting for younger audiences tends to be more exaggerated at times. Same thing applies to the story and there were numerous plot holes. It's not hard to predict what's going to create the conflict or what's going to resolve it. Since the story is about a single mom, obviously the kid plays a part in a 3 way relationship.

There's a rival, but I never really took him seriously as that. I would have preferred that the time spent on that sub-plot would have been added to screen time for Armstrong and Lawrence together.

Basically it's a cute Santa Jr story with a sweet romance.

I enjoyed this movie and watched it a couple of times last year. This year it was the only Hallmark type of Christmas movie I was looking for on Netflix. Honestly it's not a great movie. Some scenes seem unrehearsed, some conversations start with an awkward pause like everyone is waiting for the director to yell Action. But there is so much potential in the story, and the two leads have the chemistry the movie needs. With a few tweaks, a remake could be amazing.