There are many classic Christmas films/specials out there, though won't name them to be fair to 'Finding Santa'. There are also some really bad and worse ones, have seen a fair share of festive films that fit that distinction recently alone. None of Hallmark's Christmas films fit my definition of classic, but that is in no way saying that all of them are bad. Actually think a sizeable amount of them are watchable and even surprisingly good.
'Finding Santa' is not one of those watchable or surprisingly good Hallmark festive films. It's not one of the worst and there are certainly worse films out there in general. The worst of 'Finding Santa's' many flaws (almost everything being bad in my view) are truly painful, at the same time it wasn't quite one of those films that was offensive to me. Just to say it takes a lot for me to be offended by a film, despite oddly enough being more sensitive in real life.
It's not all awful. The soundtrack is appealing and captures the festive flavour quite well. The scenery is also quite nice.
Complemented by nice photography in parts, regardless of any questions over authenticity.
Everything else however fails spectacularly. Didn't find myself connecting to or even remotely interested in the severely underdeveloped characters or any of the chemistry between the actors, which is ill at ease and complete blank throughout all round. Especially in the case of the two leads (best summed up as non-existent), never got the sense that they were in love or even liked each other and the two actors look miserable the entire time. The supporting cast struggle to do anything with what they are given which is in all fairness incredibly weak and would be beneath most people.
Would have forgiven 'Finding Santa' not having a single original thought if the story was compelling regardless of that. Something that the story is the complete opposite of, the pace has absolutely no life whatsoever and the content just wasn't enough for feature film, so thin it was that it would barely have been enough for a 30 minute length. It is also completely charmless and completely lacks warmth and heart, the personality-deprived characters, leaden pace, thin storytelling and lack of emotion makes for a cold experience where no soul is in sight. The direction is barely decipherable, the script is so overripe and mawkish as well as over-serious and the editing can be sloppy.
All in all, very bad. 2/10
'Finding Santa' is not one of those watchable or surprisingly good Hallmark festive films. It's not one of the worst and there are certainly worse films out there in general. The worst of 'Finding Santa's' many flaws (almost everything being bad in my view) are truly painful, at the same time it wasn't quite one of those films that was offensive to me. Just to say it takes a lot for me to be offended by a film, despite oddly enough being more sensitive in real life.
It's not all awful. The soundtrack is appealing and captures the festive flavour quite well. The scenery is also quite nice.
Complemented by nice photography in parts, regardless of any questions over authenticity.
Everything else however fails spectacularly. Didn't find myself connecting to or even remotely interested in the severely underdeveloped characters or any of the chemistry between the actors, which is ill at ease and complete blank throughout all round. Especially in the case of the two leads (best summed up as non-existent), never got the sense that they were in love or even liked each other and the two actors look miserable the entire time. The supporting cast struggle to do anything with what they are given which is in all fairness incredibly weak and would be beneath most people.
Would have forgiven 'Finding Santa' not having a single original thought if the story was compelling regardless of that. Something that the story is the complete opposite of, the pace has absolutely no life whatsoever and the content just wasn't enough for feature film, so thin it was that it would barely have been enough for a 30 minute length. It is also completely charmless and completely lacks warmth and heart, the personality-deprived characters, leaden pace, thin storytelling and lack of emotion makes for a cold experience where no soul is in sight. The direction is barely decipherable, the script is so overripe and mawkish as well as over-serious and the editing can be sloppy.
All in all, very bad. 2/10