This is a story with some unique aspects. Secret Santa has been done. But it's not as overused as most of the stories we see this time of year. The get-a-promotion is a little overused, but not quite in this way. Leading the reporter to the true meaning of Christmas is also a little different. Hiding-a-secret and interrupted-before-I-tell-you are both overused, but hard to avoid in this story.
Erin Cahill is perfect for a character with Christmas spirit. I didn't feel like it was overdone, but the spirit seemed to flow out of her. Kevin McGarry does seem a little forced, but as a duo, these two do a nice job. Jaden Oehr is decent as the kid.
The competing reporters, especially with their debate over principles, is also a little unique. Unfortunately, I hated this aspect of the story. It would have worked much better if it was a little more subtle. The debate was part of the theme of the movie, but the cut-throat competition was overdone. The idealist romantic in me would have like the random-acts theme to be a little more pure, but the way this story is written, even the competition was necessary. But the resulting climax was forced due mostly to less than stellar acting by Hamza Fouad . The climax was still worth it all. When I say I would have like the competition to be a little more subtle, I don't mean completely eliminated, but just a little more subtle.
BTW: What happened to the black tie even Colin promised to be at? You may have noticed he was doing something else. There were a few other minor details that weren't cleaned up. Sydney left her car in traffic when she saw that early event where she met Cole/Colin, yet it didn't get towed. Later when decorating the house, she walks in to cook supper leaving a box of decorations literally in the middle of the porch in front of the door.
