The Santa Class

I loved this movie! Kimberly Sustad is one of my favorite Hallmark actors and I watch all of her movies. She was fantastic in this, and as always handled comedy and deep emotions very well. Her chemistry with Benjamin Ayres was wonderful and very believable. He was hilarious! He is usually more subdued in his roles, so this was a nice departure for him and he handled the comedy well.

Paul Campbell's role was priceless! The entire cast was great and the man who played Santa was perfect.

I'm sure there were flaws in the movie, but I never noticed because I was enjoying the movie so much! I will definitely watch The Santa Class again!

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.

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.

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.

I can't remember ever giving ANY Hallmark movie a ten. I have loved most , tolerated some , cringed through a few , but never a 10. This movie hit all the right notes. Funny , sentimental, and , of course , romantic. Kimberley Sustad and Benjamin Ayres are perfect in their roles. Kimberley's realistic doubts of her future came across as totally believable. Benjamin plays a his role perfectly, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable, even if it starts a bit slowly. Adding in Paul Campbell doing research for a role is perfect. Trevor Lerner is great as a confused Santa , Lindsay Winch is starting up the Hallmark ladder , expect her to be a lead soon . Carmel Amit( great in Field Day also) is wonderful , as is Graeme McComb . The rest of the cast is good also , just not that much to do. There are numerous one liners thrown out that you need to pay attention for. You may not give it a 10 , but I think you'll want to see this one every year at Christmas time.