Noelle (2019)

Directed by Marc Lawrence. Starring Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Shirley MacLaine, Billy Eichner, Julie Hagerty, Jay Brazeau, Diana Maria Riva, Michael Gross, Maceo Smedley, Ron Funches. [G]

Santa Claus has died (offscreen, don’t worry), leaving his uncertain son Nick (Hader) in line to take over, even though sister Noelle (Kendrick) seems better suited for the role (pun not intended). Mild, genteel Christmas flick for the whole family, provided they’re an undiscriminating bunch; its progressive politics are old hat and obvious by now, and it takes too long to arrive at the inevitable “breakthrough.” Sentimental soup as the moment may be, the pic hits its thematic and emotional peak at a false climax…and then keeps going for another fifteen minutes. Perky, ingenuous Kendrick is easy to take, but Hader isn’t employed to his strengths, and MacLaine gets almost nothing to do as a faintly sardonic and disinterested elf. Also of note: CGI or not, that baby reindeer Snowcone is friggin’ adorable. Eagle-eyed viewers can spot a couple of Mickey Mouse “cameos” in this Disney+ release.

50/100