Le Miracle de Noël

This is a charming TV movie. First off, Paul Hopper (Santa) is perfect in the role. I don't know why we haven't seen more of him. Mark Boyd superbly plays a down and out former real estate agent Raynor who makes of with the Baby Jesus from the church so he can spend Christmas in a warm cell instead of out in the cold. Sheriff Rick Langston is the Grinch of the story as his ex-wife is not letting him come over for Christmas to see his daughter. The Sheriff goes home to find a man claiming to be Santa making a sandwich in his house and arrests him. The story that unfolds is more about the belief in goodness and love and not shutting yourself off from the magic in life. There is, of course, a budding romance and everyone in the end get what they really want (and need).

The first time I saw this film i thought it rather dry and lame. But I've watched it for a few more years and have developed a respect for its silliness, charm and the love that is communicated by Santa. I really enjoy it.

Honestly, I don't know why this film has such a low rating (just 3.9 as I'm writing this). I mean, sure, it's obviously an ultra-low budget film, but it's adorable! A very sweet film. Dean Cain is, of course, fantastic as the lead character. I assume he did this on a volunteer basis (maybe as a favor to a friend?), because I'm pretty sure his salary alone would've been more than this film's entire budget. Santa and the town drunk are also wonderful. The only 2 REAL faults I can find are some overacting on the part of some of the female roles, and I'm not quite sure what the point of Tom's drunk mother-in-law was. She's just generally very bratty, not adding comedic value, and doesn't really seem to have a purpose in the plot, either.

To start off, the entire thing looks like it was filmed with a first gen iPhone.

The script...was there one?

How did the get Dean Cain you ask? He will do anything for a buck.

Do not bother watching this unless you have the ability to scrub your brain afterwards. Speaking of, I now have to go down some whiskey to try and erase this disaster of a film from my mind.

This is no Hallmark movie, thank goodness. Some of the lines in the movie are "insider joke" references. Such as the poster that says "real heroes don't wear capes" which I believe is relating to Dean Cain's years as superman in Lois & Clark. I liked that it is not heavily into the romance side of things. A nice lighthearted movie and well worth your time.