The Santa Class

7.5 stars.

Was a bit disappointed at first, thought it was a dud. I was thinking, oh my another one of those highly rated Hallmark films turns out to be a total disappointment. But I stayed with it and it grew on me over time.

This movie is sort of like a fine wine. I don't know what it is about it, but it becomes more rich as the minutes pass. I think the story requires time in order to mature into a wonderful and festive atmosphere. The beginning felt sort of cheap and gimmicky, but I really can't describe what it felt like, but something essential was missing. And then it was there, poof, I don't know when it appeared, not sure exactly what the magic ingredient was, but i started to feel good about the story.

I wouldn't say this movie is one of my favorites, because it's not as cohesive or fully entertaining throughout. It took time to ripen.

There is, however, some excellent humor, very clever. You might love this movie, so give it a shot.

Every now and then Hallmark comes up with a really unique idea for their Christmas movies and here is an excellent one. Kimberley Sustad and Benjamin Ayres play Kate and Don, who have been antagonistic with each other for years after a failed "date," but join forces to save Kate's family Santa school. The first half hour of this movie is hilarious. Sustad's wonderful talents for sharp and witty comedy are on full display and who knew Ayres could be so funny - he's always good, but here he is exceptional. In the second half hour, you meet the ragtag Santa school students, and what a bunch they are. All funny, with their idiosyncrasies, including the real Santa who has lost his memory (played expertly and endearingly by Trevor Lerner), an old Grandpa (played nicely by Tom Pickett), a woman-Santa-wannabe (the always good Carmel Amit, willing to forego her attractiveness in this part), and a man who expresses himself through a hand puppet ! No kidding- but it's hilarious. And then the surprise - there's a very talented Hallmark regular playing himself in a very tongue-in-cheek performance as he goes to the school to research how to play Santa. We are sure he's not this self-absorbed in real life, but you can't tell that from some of the looks he gets from Sustad, his frequent co-star and co-writer in other Hallmark films. All of the other students are well played and funny. Plus, Allesandro Miro shows up with a funny performance as Blaise, the school's major competitor. This is all extremely well written and nicely directed by Lucie Guest with expensive looking sets.

But, many kudos have to go out to the casting director who engaged these marvelous performers for this movie. They all look like they really enjoyed playing these parts and, together, led by the terrific Sustad and Ayres, they carry it off to perfection. As an added bonus, the scenes between Kate and the real Santa during the last 30 minutes are touching and wonderfully played by Sustad and Lerner, with a gift given at the end of the film that is very special. A little Christmas "magic", lots of Santas, lots of fun, and lots of sentiment. The best of Hallmark's 2024 new season.

Loved Trevor as Nick he fitted the part very well,hope to see him in more holiday movies.

Now onto the remaining review.. Although a bit clichéd,it wasn't anything typically overdone by Hallmark-Such as festivals,etc.

It was cast & acted decent,music didn't overly drown out speaking.

The holiday decor was fine & not sure if this took place in Canada,pretending to be elsewhere but felt"almost"season/temperature realistic.

The opening credits to the movie was refreshing,get rather bored with the cookie cutter productions-Quality over quantity matters!

Was a fun storyline in general,one might actually watch again.. Check it out!

This was a fun and unique premise for a hallmark holiday movie and I loved the chemistry between Kimberley Sustad (Kate) and Benjamin Ayres (Dan).

Kate inherits her dad's Santa school, The North Star, when he retires. Their biggest competition is a corporate Santa School, Saint Nicholas, that has moved into town, but in order to cut costs they fire their best Santa trainer, Dan, who comes to work for The North Star Santa School. Dan and Kate went in one date prior to working together...and now they have quite a challenge with the misfits in this session of the school and hoping to win the Santa Cup.

On the way to meet their new class of Santas, Kate and Dan meet the real Santa on the side of the road...only Santa seems to have amnesia. They bring "Nick" back to the school hoping to help restore his memory.

They end up with the most unconventional group of Santa's to enter into the Christmas Cup...skinny Santa, cool Santa, hippy Santa, woman Santa, ventriloquist Santa...and well...the real Santa.

The humor in this was great. It was creative, magical and fun...not to mention romantic with just the right amount of Christmas. I think Christmas and romantic fans will enjoy this one.

There might have been a few holes in the plot but I was swept up in this movie. If it weren't for the blasted commercials (and there were a lot), I would have smiled nonstop. There were so many funny lines and situations in this movie that it should be required viewing for people who find it difficult to get into the holiday spirit.

The lead actors, Kimberly and Benjamin, didn't take themselves too seriously and their kisses could literally melt the fake snow.

They had excellent chemistry from the start. I loved the banter in their first scene together. Almost felt like a throw back to the black and white movies of the1930s. It would be fun to see these two in a throw back movie. Maybe one that starred Myrna Loy and William Powell.

Yes, I would watch that.