Eric Roberts plays a mall Santa and I was a little creeped out by the kids sitting on his lap. A disruption happens and six kids are transported to Santa's compound where they are to work and make toys, filling in for striking elves who want better working conditions and to include other religions into the holiday...to the dismay of Santa who wants to keep Christmas Christian. The kidnapped kids want out, but are first shown what naughty people they are as this in an anti-bullying film whose message was solid, but the conduit for delivering the message was weak.
The acting all around was stiff. These weren't Disney kids, although the film, at times attempted to look like a Disney production. This is for kids who still believe in Santa and can't tell good acting from bad, or a bad story line. You know, the kids who loved BFG.
If you are looking for a good family Christmas story, try "Blizzard," a delightful tale that flew under most radars.
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