Watch Dear Santa For Free

Best movie of this year hands down!

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Shopaholic Crystal's (Amy Acker, Alias) wealthy parents give her an ultimatum: change her irresponsible ways by Christmas or they will cut her off without a cent. With no job or romantic prospects, what's a party girl to do? Fate intervenes when she finds seven year-old Olivia's (Emma Duke) letter to Santa asking for a new wife for her widowed dad Derek (David Haydn-Jones). Crystal tracks them down and vows to win over father and daughter before the fast-approaching holiday deadline. This is a nice little film. It has lots of spirit and charming actors. It has more depth than your average Christmas Movie! When you see it pop up on television WATCH IT. You will enjoy this.

Love this movie. Plot is totally predictable like 90% of every other movie in the IMDb. Widower dad adorable daughter wants Santa bring daddy new mommy spoiled rich girl finds letter to Santa yadda yadda ...But who cares? Great execution by everyone involved. Amy Acker lights up every scene. Jason Priestly smartly keeps the camera on her most of the time. The father/daughter pair are cast perfectly and play off of each other well. The antagonist girlfriend hits just the right note. The LGBTQ character plays beyond stereotype effectively. Production values are passable. Hard to imagine a better Hallmark/Lifetime-like movie.

So, I asked my girlfriend to find something "Christmas-y" while I was in the other room. I heard her giggle as she flipped it to Lifetime or Hallmark or whatever channel this glorious piece of work was on. Good one, baby. That's what I get for making her change investigate discovery. My gut instinct was to call the station or production company and let them know they had a sick camera guy, was this being filmed like a mockumentary? You get used to it, eventually the shake-zoom, repeat, shuffle becomes one with you.Soon, we meet the people and plot! The character Crystal, inspired by Glenn Close in Fatal Attractions. She has no qualms about talking smack, doing things like getting her car towed to blow this schmucks night driving her around; or taking advantage of his forgetful daughter who is just as conniving. Forgetful in the fact that he has a girlfriend, already. Derek, who is conflicted. Should I propose or let a chick stay the night because "she's having fun" kinda snow plow driving through Manhatten kind of guy. Let's mention the most important character; Pete the soup chef, the pink Toque and jacket (because gay) and saying things like "girlfriend" to end cap or start sentences that only dispense plot necessary devices. Pete's clothing escalates through the movie, eventually he becomes an ornament they have to place in the tree, because he's too beautiful for the mortal world. He's in on the plan to insert the new regime, as well. Why? He's known this weirdo one day. She loves scarves that's quirky! I guess they all get what they deserve in the end. Jillian the girlfriend who got Derek through his mourning is free of these twisted weirdos. When Derek has another girl over who is just "having fun" and Olivia, Soup Chef Pete and Crystal plot to off him for his plow and soup kitchen by having schizophrenic Frank strangle him with a scarf, it will be expected.... It's fate.

Somehow, despite the formulaic plot (rich, but nice, girl about to be cut off from family money unless she becomes more responsible (i.e. married and productive), finds widower whose child is seeking a new wife for him, while using knowledge of high fashion and society's upper echelon to overcome obstacle of snobbish former girlfriend attempting to work back into widower's life), this is a delightful story that actually works well. The characters interact in a relatively believable manner, so even though we can pretty much guess at how it will end within the first five minutes, it's fun to watch it play out. I wouldn't mind seeing it again!