Secret Santa

I watch this movie in December every year and is one of my all time favorite christmas movie. My favorite characters besides Jennie Garth are the newspaper editor and the garage mechanic. Barbara billingsley is a blast from the past and this is her last film. This is a great comedy as well as a story with heart. It should get you in a great holiday mood as it always does me. Charlie Robinson plays a wonderful kind character and is easy to love. This is my favorite film by Jennie, she knocks it out of the park with her comedic timing. I have recommended this to friends. The only bad thing is the film quality on YouTube is the only place I found to watch it. I hope you will give it a try.

About eight minutes after the opening credits, I identified the Secret Santa to my companions. As the movie progressed my friends began to believe me more and more. Finally, it turned out that I was absolutely correct. How did I figure it out so fast? I have a nasty habit of always reading the credits...carefully.

The story - Jennie Garth as a reporter is sent to a town called Hamden to identify a mysterious Christmas benefactor. Along the way she meets the citizens of the town, gets to know them, and ends up liking them. She does find out who the benefactor is at the last minute, which disappoints me because the clues were in front of her face most of the time. Even if she could not see them, she should at least done a better job of listening.

Still, it was cute to watch and young ones can learn a great deal from the story's moral.

Rebecca is tired of reporting on 'fluff' stories for the Indianapolis Sentinel. When her editor wants her to do a story on the 'Secret Santa' who gives anonymous gifts to people in the small town of Hamden, she doesn't want to do it, until she realizes that she can prove herself by making the story more than a fluff piece. (A last-minute change of plans also helps.)

After some misfortunes, Rebecca starts getting to know the people of the town, and she suspects the 'Secret Santa' is one of the town's richest men, a lawyer named John Martin Carter. There are plenty of clues, but getting to the real answer is not easy. She gets splashed by a careless driver ... in this type of movie, when a young woman despises a young man, you can almost predict what is going to happen.

Jennie Garth was great. Not only adorable and sometimes funny, but also determined, and quite pretty too. There were lots of good performances, including Charlie Robinson as an employee at a rest home, who, despite his image as a comic actor, gave one of his best performances ever later in the movie when he wasn't even being funny. Also good was Barbara Billingsley as one of the rest home's residents who teaches Rebecca a lot.

The movie was sometimes funny, but it was also touching. And it was appropriate for the whole family, with a TV-G rating, a rare thing these days on broadcast TV.

I agree with Jim and the other comments. I recorded this on the off chance as I was at work and settled down to watch it a couple of days later. From the first few moments which seemed to echo my own Bah Humbug sentiments, to the final revealing of the Secret Santa, I was enchanted! In fact, having watched that film, I suddenly found some Christmas spirit and had a good old cry throughout!

What a joy to find a sweet, innocent, moving film amongst all the other rubbish and repeats that were on British TV this year.

As another reviewer said, its a shame that it will only ever been seen at Christmas time! I'm soooo glad that I haven't recorded over it so that I can watch it again and again!

Lets face it, it will never win any awards, will always be dismissed by TV reviewers but will ALWAYS be loved by those of us that discovered it one Christmas and hold it close to our hearts!

"Secret Santa" is a 2003 comedy film directed by Ian Barry. Here's a review of the film:

"Secret Santa" follows the story of a small-town sheriff named Ross Cooper (Colin Buchanan) who is determined to bring Christmas spirit to his community despite facing financial struggles and a lack of holiday cheer. When a mysterious stranger known as Nick (John Jarratt) arrives in town claiming to be Santa Claus, Ross is skeptical but eventually comes to embrace the idea of spreading goodwill and joy.

The film blends elements of comedy, drama, and heartwarming holiday moments as Ross and the residents of his town band together to celebrate Christmas. Along the way, they encounter various challenges and obstacles, including a grumpy landlord, a mischievous elf, and a series of mishaps that threaten to derail their festive plans.

Colin Buchanan delivers a charming performance as the determined sheriff who learns the true meaning of Christmas through his interactions with Nick and the people of his town. John Jarratt brings a whimsical and enigmatic quality to the role of Nick, leaving audiences guessing about his true identity until the end.

"Secret Santa" offers plenty of laughs, touching moments, and feel-good holiday spirit, making it an enjoyable watch for viewers of all ages. The film's message about the importance of community, kindness, and generosity resonates long after the credits roll, making it a memorable addition to the Christmas movie genre.

While "Secret Santa" may not be the most original or groundbreaking holiday film, its heartwarming story and endearing characters make it a worthy addition to any festive movie lineup. With its mix of humor, heart, and Christmas magic, it's sure to leave audiences feeling merry and bright.