J'ai rencontré le Père Noël

That's C. Gion's best film and it is definitively not a good film! Gion is infamous for his bad comedies from the eighties to the beginning of the 90s. He shot "J'ai rencontré le père Noel" in 1984. This Christmas tale stands out in his filmography. It's a movie for children, a film deprived of rude words and saucy situations. There's a change! The problem is that the indigent screenplay doesn't work and Gion is as bad as usual. Nothing works and everything looks so naive, too childish and fake. Surprinsingly only karen Cheryl, at the time a famous anchorwoman and former singer, manages to catch our attention. She's not that bad at all.

This film was just totally insane suffice to say as the plot was not on point and the only thing that could have made this movie make any sense was not used. The film does get points for being different, but it is so way out there that you cannot even see it! Along with being different it also features a very attractive lady as the Xmas fairy/schoolteacher; however, aside from that there is little to enjoy about this film other than the fact it is sheer madness that this film exists in the first place!

The story, a kid is a bit of a sad child and the other kids tease him and blame him for breaking a window, so the custodian tosses him into a shed. Turns out this boy's parents have been kidnapped by an African warlord so the boy asks Santa to bring them back. At this point, you are probably wondering if I am making this up, but nope. The boy along with a girl somehow board a plane and head to a place where there is snow and they find Santa! Also, just outside the borders of the town lurks an ogre that eats children and Santa has apparently not bothered to do anything about this. Santa and Xmas fairy go to rescue the boy's parents and the kids get caught by the ogre because the girl wants to see it, because all girls like to look at bloodthirsty ogres...

The only road this film had to make its plot make sense is the tired "it was all a dream" cliche. I mean, why else would the ogre and the custodian be the same person? Why else would the teacher and fairy be the same person, it had to be a dream! Nope, they play it off like it all happened so puppies were eaten, Santa was almost killed by an African warlord and then Santa left the parents to their fate. Seriously, they could have easily been recaptured after Santa teleported back home.

So this film was complete madness! Which is a bit of why I give this one a three rather than a one or two. That and the very attractive fairy when she switched to her red riding hood costume! The story though also makes no sense and the fact that they played it off as really happening and not a dream seems crazy. Still, while it was a bit insane, it was also quite different so it had that going for it.

A young boy tells his teacher that all he wants for christmas is his mother and father, who are political prisoners in Africa.... (can't tell the story).. Gets the opportunity to confront Santa, and ask him to free his parents. This film is french (dubbed English), that has a great story, nice soundtrack, and an ending that will bring tears to your eyes (If you are a compassionate person.) Some Parts are funny! Great musical soundtrack! (speaking for the dubbed version).

This movie is beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt, the most ridiculous movie ever made. HOWEVER, it is entirely impossible to watch this movie and NOT be entertained. My brother and I have watched this movie every Christmas since we were 3 and 4. We laugh, we cry, we sing along... Not really. Actually, we DO laugh.. a lot. When the fairy takes the children to the "workshop" and the elves sing a little song, listen to the words... you'll understand why. Also, classic scenes like Santa arguing with a monkey.. and Santa swimming with a crocodile are spellbinding. Watch for the scene where Santa literally throws the dog across the room in order to wake the children... When the maintenance man throws putty at Simon's face, the look in the child's eyes is priceless! When you watch this movie, make sure you "Stop All Your Crying Business", what for, you say? You'll find out!! ;)

I remember watching this all the time as I kid. All I remembered was kids sneaking on a plane and seeing Santa. Took me years on the internet to find out what is was. Just stumbled on it tot day on Amazon Prime. Totally took me back and now I realize all those bits and pieces about his parents I forgot about(the entire plot) lol