Santa's Boots

Santa's Boots (2018) -

They actually started doing things early enough to pull off the events and activities that they planned in this film. It was a Christmas Miracle and it was refreshing.

There were many obvious similarities to 'Charming Christmas/The Secret Life Of Mrs. Claus' (2015) and although I liked that one too, I thought that this one just had the edge over it, perhaps because the relationship progressed so naturally and sweetly.

I liked the flirtations between Noah Mills as Nick and Megan Hilty in the role of Holly. It seemed real and what I would expect the beginnings of a budding connection to be. I could get behind them and wished for their success.

I also appreciated the fact that they didn't have a silly falling out, but that their getting to know each other was interrupted in another way, for a change up of the usual formula.

However, I couldn't understand why the other men in town all wanted to try on Nick's boots or what the incentive was for them? I wouldn't want to wear another man's shoes, men's feet are gross, sweaty and stinky.

It would also be highly unlikely that the boots didn't fit at least one other person in town. That element, although the title of the story and trying to be like Cinderella could have been omitted and the film could have been renamed.

In general this film was a nice, simple and easy story with heart and without any obvious issues. I could refer back to previous reviews, where the fact that even independent shops would have had to plan their seasonal changes far more in advance might have been mentioned, but they did try to give it the time that it needed in this one, so I liked that.

It didn't seem to be trying to use all the usual tricks and although it was a story that had been done many times before, it was a good interpretation. I like Megan Hilty and I will be looking for more outings by Noah Mills.

6.25/10.

Despite the talents of Megan Hilty and June Squibb this Hallmark movie fell flat. I was very bored and it provided only a background to things that demanded my attention more like dinner and Words With Friends. Didn't even put it on pause.

Was not sure as to whether 'Santa's Boots' would be a good film or not. It did sound like it could be a charming and light-hearted film, which is actually more than enough to make a Christmas film work. With the whole Cinderella reversal with the boot though to the story, it did sound like it could easily be a very cheesy film and not in an endearing way if not done right. Even the title, 'Santa's Boots', though is indication enough of what the film would be like.

'Santa's Boots' turned out to be a lovely film that achieved exactly what it set out to do without trying to do any more than necessary, while still showing effort in each component throughout. Sure, the whole stuff with the boots was very silly at first and quite corny. But as the story progressed, it became far less gimmicky and was actually quite sweet. It has been very hit and miss regarding all the recently seen Christmas films, and 'Santa's Boots' was one of the hits unquestionably.

It did get off to a pretty corny and slow start. It did get going quite quickly though once the boots plotline took getting used to and it was the very meaning of a very pleasant diversion, pure formula plot elements and all.

Although not an exceptional-looking film, it doesn't look cheap either and the location is lovely. The soundtrack gives the right amount of festive cheer and didn't feel inappropriate or heavy-handed. The script is an amiable mix of quietly amusing comedy, sweet but never over-sentimental romance and more serious moments that move and warm the heart without making the storytelling too dark.

Luckily, that is something that it never gets. The tone is constantly light-hearted and heart-warming, capturing the joy and charm of the holiday more than ideally. The story tropes are never anything original by any stretch, but the theme of moving on without forgetting is a relatable one and has a good deal of heart. The characters have enough personality and didn't irritate me, while Megan Hilty and Noah Mills give appealing understated performances (Hilty having the more energy of the two) and their chemistry is never dull or disengaged.

Overall, very nicely done. 8/10

So if Nick and Holly are both 35 and they both grew up in the small town, how is it that they never met each other?

This is not bad for lifetime standards but nothing new and follows the same formula and the plot is predictable.