Le père Noël prend sa retraite

Once again, I have seen a Christmas romcom where the lead female is cynical and the supporting cast is better than the leads. I'm not familiar with Samaire Armstrong but she is quite pretty and does a good job, even if she is sometimes too serious. I like her enough, and she has one really good moment as an actor, even if it is an unpleasant scene for the audience. I do wonder how a single mom in an ordinary job can have such a nice house.

The standout actors are Julie Brown (when has she ever not stood out?) and Jim O'Heir as the man you think should be Santa Claus, if he just added the suit and a beard. Julie is the quirky best friend with an attitude, but a more positive attitude than her friend has. O'Heir is the voice of reason when his Santa Claus isn't being logical.

Paul Dooley is the curmudgeon of a boss, but someone we can like in spite of that. Channing Chase is his potential romantic partner, and while intelligent, too quick to be what he wants her to be.

Matthew Lawrence I know as one of the Lawrence brothers. Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but I don't think they're known for their talent. Matthew has a nice smile and is likable enough, but he's not that good. He has some good scenes, mainly when he's not happy. The writing for his character is good but better than he is. And he seems like a teenager, a little young to be in the role or a possible romantic interest for Jen.

Gabe O'Mara is quite likable as the 7-year-old son, even if he looks a little old to still believe.

Ben Gavin is the stereotypical ideal man, but do we really want him to win? Likable enough, I suppose, but too ideal.

The photos of the kids with Santa early in the movie are great.

One positive message involves a family which is having a hard time. Like the Whos who had their holiday stolen by The Grinch, they choose to be happy anyway, because the holiday isn't just about things.

The ending is impossible, but when there is a Santa Claus, why not?

I want to say this is a great movie for kids, but there is one scene that is really concerning. Michael Waite is quite convincing in a flashback as the angry husband and father who has had it with whatever is going on. He isn't exactly violent, but it is disturbing to watch him and maybe something like this was unnecessary. He could have been written as a more sympathetic character, who just couldn't make his marriage work.

Other than that, I would say this is a good movie for kids.

There isn't a mention of the Christian meaning of Christmas, but the family with problems did have a church food bank, and familiar Christmas hymns are included in the background instrumental music. On the subject of music, I wasn't that happy with it, especially with the closing credits music which at least was short.

I would say this is pretty good.

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.

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.

The last quarter of 2019 saw me starting to watch and review many relatively recent Christmas films. As part of a quest to see as many as possible that had not already been seen and still favourites. A quest that still is being undertaken nearly two years on. It did turn out to an interesting experience, took me time to get through it though and am still watching and reviewing, but like all completest quests it proved to be a very variable one with a mix good, bad and in between films.

'My Santa' is one of the in between ones. It is not a great film, and at times not even particularly good, but it was watchable, well intended and sweet. A pleasant enough diversion as long as one doesn't expect too much, that does a fair share of things right. Even if the traps that festive films can fall into, and frequently have done, are not completely avoided. Other festive films have fared far worse in what 'My Santa' has wrong with it though, which is actually quite a lot.

Am going to start off mentioning the flaws. The story is formulaic and doesn't really have anything new or special to it to make it stand out, also not always being completely focused. Many Christmas films end too tidily and that is the case with 'My Santa', as well as it being resolved too quick. The dialogue doesn't always sound natural and could have done with more flow and less cheese and sugar, some scenes do contain howlers for lines.

Do agree that the family in need and explanation for not liking Christmas scenes are embarrassing. With one exception, the supporting cast is pretty terrible. Especially in the family in need scene.

Luckily the two leads are a lot better. Samaire Armstrong is an immensely engaging lead and really charms the viewer. Matthew Lawrence isn't as consistent, he could have toned down the smile in use and how it came across, but he also has a lot of appeal. The chemistry between them is easy-going and genuine, developing at a realistic rate. Julie Brown is a joy in the best friend role and the only good supporting cast member.

The production values are pleasing on the eye, the scenery has an authentic Christmassy feel and the photography doesn't try to do too much while not being claustrophobic. The soundtrack is also suitably festive without being overpowering in volume or over-utilised. Enough parts are amusingly light-hearted and there are some heart-warming and charming moments without being too saccharine.

Overall, watchable but not great. 5/10.

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.