Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Desperately Seeking Santa

  • TV Movie
  • 20112011
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Laura Vandervoort and Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
  • Comedy
  • Family
  • Romance
Jennifer is a marketing guru who dreams up the ticket to Christmas sales!Jennifer is a marketing guru who dreams up the ticket to Christmas sales!Jennifer is a marketing guru who dreams up the ticket to Christmas sales!
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Craig Pryce
  • Writer
    • Michael J. Murray
  • Stars
    • Laura Vandervoort
    • Nick Zano
    • Paula Brancati
Top credits
  • Director
    • Craig Pryce
  • Writer
    • Michael J. Murray
  • Stars
    • Laura Vandervoort
    • Nick Zano
    • Paula Brancati
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    Laura Vandervoort and Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Nick Zano and Saara Chaudry in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Laura Vandervoort and Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Laura Vandervoort and Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Laura Vandervoort and Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Laura Vandervoort and Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Laura Vandervoort in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Desperately Seeking Santa 2011
    Laura Vandervoort and Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laura Vandervoort
    Laura Vandervoort
    • Jennifer Walkeras Jennifer Walker
    Nick Zano
    Nick Zano
    • David Morrettias David Morretti
    Paula Brancati
    Paula Brancati
    • Marissa Marletas Marissa Marlet
    John Bregar
    John Bregar
    • Neal McCormickas Neal McCormick
    Patrick Garrow
    Patrick Garrow
    • Edgar Hillridgeas Edgar Hillridge
    Natalie Krill
    Natalie Krill
    • Brittanyas Brittany
    Gerry Mendicino
    Gerry Mendicino
    • Mr. Morettias Mr. Moretti
    Chris Violette
    Chris Violette
    • Vincent Morrettias Vincent Morretti
    Katie Griffin
    Katie Griffin
    • Sonia Morettias Sonia Moretti
    Shamier Anderson
    Shamier Anderson
    • Hipster Jeremyas Hipster Jeremy
    Damien Atkins
    • Choreographeras Choreographer
    Lisa Berry
    Lisa Berry
    • Christine Mayweatheras Christine Mayweather
    Diane Fabian
    • Mrs. Clarkas Mrs. Clark
    Jai Jai Jones
    Jai Jai Jones
    • Georgeas George
    Kim Roberts
    Kim Roberts
    • Tonyaas Tonya
    Reg Dreger
    • Fat Santaas Fat Santa
    Marium Carvell
    Marium Carvell
    • Maureenas Maureen
    Sam Kalilieh
    Sam Kalilieh
    • Fatheras Father
    • Director
      • Craig Pryce
    • Writer
      • Michael J. Murray
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Rooftop Christmas Tree
    6.2
    The Rooftop Christmas Tree
    A Gift Wrapped Christmas
    7.0
    A Gift Wrapped Christmas
    Holiday in Handcuffs
    6.1
    Holiday in Handcuffs
    Four Christmases and a Wedding
    5.9
    Four Christmases and a Wedding
    The Mistletoe Promise
    6.6
    The Mistletoe Promise
    A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas
    6.1
    A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas
    Christmas Next Door
    6.5
    Christmas Next Door
    I'm Not Ready for Christmas
    6.0
    I'm Not Ready for Christmas
    Love You Like Christmas
    6.4
    Love You Like Christmas
    Naughty or Nice
    6.4
    Naughty or Nice
    Christmas Is You
    5.8
    Christmas Is You
    Snow
    6.4
    Snow

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Paula Brancati second Christmas Movie.
    • Connections
      References Star Wars (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Chica Chica
      Written by Steve Hopkins

      Produced by Steve Hopkins

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    "Sexed Up Santa"
    Jennifer Walker (Laura Vandervoort) is head of marketing at a big South Boston Mall. She is in line for a big corporate gig at the parent company that owns the mall she works at as well as many others in the Northeast. However, due to flagging sales as a result of competition from other malls and online shopping, she is given an ultimatum from her boss: Find a way to bring attendance back up for the Christmas shopping season or her mall will be shut down and hundreds of employees will lose their jobs.

    So, with less than a month to go to turn things around, she gets the inspiration to really spice things up. Why not have a Sexy Santa Competition to bring lots of young women shoppers to the mall instead of staying at home? A PG-13 level Chippendales-like competition ensues in which a bunch of hunky guys dance around shirtless in front of thongs of women who will decide who will become the next Mall Santa.

    Jennifer can be quite the Scrooge, coldly firing the traditional old school Santa - who had been a staple at the mall for years - in order to bring in Sexy Santa. In one early scene she cuts in line at the outside coffee stand without any regard for those that had been waiting longer in the cold. One of those waiting is a young man called David Moretti (Nick Zano) who calls her out for cutting when he and all the others had been standing and shivering for so long. The insults fly and Jennifer walks off in a huff. But lo and behold, guess who turns out to be one of the contestants for the Sexy Santa competition!

    As can be expected, there is much early tension and animosity between the two leads, given vastly different backgrounds. Jennifer has always been Corporate while David is just a family guy, an aspiring EMT, helping run his father's family pizzeria.

    But just as predictable, she slowly warms up to him and it seems like they will build up a budding romance. However, she does already have a boyfriend, just another "suit" that works at the same big conglomerate she does. Complicating matters even further is the fact that the Moretti's Pizza is about to be shut down by the very same conglomerate that Jennifer works for, in order to build luxury condos.

    Will David be able to save his dad's restaurant that has been in business for over 75 years? Will Jennifer be able to save South Boston mall, a place she has worked for over 20 years and who fiercely protects her co-workers? And just how will she break the news to David that it's her own company that has used nefarious means to help get Moretti's to shut down.

    Originally airing on ABC Family, this movie was rated TV-14 and quite a bit more "sexed up" than the usual Hallmark Channel Christmas fare, The women generally wear more revealing outfits than in Hallmark movies and there are lots of guys dancing around shirtless (and not to be outdone, "sexy Reindeer" women dancers). You see adult women sitting on Sexy Santa's lap, and there are a few language references such as "ass", etc. There are a couple of gross out scenes during the dance competition and corny quotes all around.

    The music, especially early in the film, was grating and annoying, and there are too many supporting characters and archetypical corporate caricatures. The potentially intriguing subplot of a small businesses trying to take on big corporate conglomerates seems too pat, like they had to use that as filler for a thin story-line. The main two leads are likeable enough, but somehow their budding romance does not seem convincing.
    helpful•2
    0
    • epitoooozy
    • Dec 2, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 27, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Відчайдушні пошуки Санти
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production company
      • Muse Entertainment Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Laura Vandervoort and Nick Zano in Desperately Seeking Santa (2011)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Desperately Seeking Santa (2011) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in July
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.