My quick rating - 7,3/10. Time to finish off this Christmas with a beating. This one was definitely on my list ever since I read of its existence. Nothing like casting David Harbour as Santa in a flick that feels like a fun mix of Home Alone and Die Hard. We are introduced to Santa who seems to be just at his wits end with the entitled nature of kids these days and is about down with the whole Christmas holiday. Sure, he is also drowning his sorrows in booze and comedically spreading his lack of cheer. During this time he happens upon the home of cleverly casted Beverly D'Angelo who is a rich Mom with a family full of snakes trying to get at her money. One of the many good things here in this flick is that the simple idea actually weaves quite a few different storylines throughout without getting confusing nor distracting you from the main focus. Not only these mentioned, but also the daughter who just wants her parents to be in love again and the fact that Santa is real (I'll leave those parts alone for spoiler-ish reasons.) So as Santa is enjoying a cookie and a scotch, in comes Scrooge played very well by incredibly underrated John Leguizamo as our thief. This is what puts Harbour into his McClane role as his festive spirit is reignited to saving this family and the daughter who still believes. The action is very fun and deliberate in violence when need be. But it all plays out visually well with a good score to accompany it. The obvious nod to the Macaulay Culkin classic is done extremely well and gives a nice break in the headshots with some playful pranks and traps to keep the horde of bad guys from discovering Trudy's hiding place (the daughter played by Leah Brady). And when it is done, it is directly referred to by name and amusingly responded upon. I won't spoil jokes either. The combat scenes are choreographed with a brutal reality to it and look great. THe whole thing just screams out modern Christmas classic moving forward and I fully intend it to be one that gets revisited in years to come.
Available for that theater at home price of $19.99 but why not float another $5 and own it by clicking the poster below for either option.
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