This is an awesome experience. The movie was awesome, head to end.
Been a while since I saw the last young Santa Claus... that was 2006, with Master Tom Cavanaugh's Nick Snowden. He portrayed Santa really good. Man, now Master David Sutcliffe? Think I like the idea of having YOUNG Santa Clauses in Thanksgiving-Christmas movies - Santa Claus doesn't always have to be the traditional "white beard, big belly, ho ho ho, old man" figure, and getting younger males to portray Santa - as a store-costumed character or as a saintly character - really seems like a good idea.
Master Sutcliffe's Nicholas Smith character - his behaviour, his words, knowledge, actions and wisdom - they really are nothing short of saintly, and that reveal of his resume, of him being a CEO(instead of 'just a store Santa' like Meredith thought), pushes Nick to the point that he really IS Santa Claus. Also, I like Nick's temperament. Unlike some other Santa characters where their love interests fall out with them and they goes into a mopey mood, this Nick simply expresses his disappointment with deep cold and in perfect dignity, then carried on to work - something the Santa characters from movies like "Meet the Santas", "Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus", and "Merry In-laws" can learn.
Also, it's really cool to see Master Julie Benz portraying Meredith Rossman and costumed as Mrs. Claus alongside Master Sutcliffe, their chemistry was really good. Meredith gave an aura of "icy snow queen" first time she appears, as Nick commented, "Brrr, did it drop ten degrees in here?" Then for the most part, she's this typical "Christmas means sales" character like a lot of fictional and real-life business figures. But boy is Nick's Santa magic effective - slowly, under his influence, Meredith slowly begins to really accepts what the true essence of Christmas really is. Meredith said Mrs. Claus should be "kind, motherly", and should be "older-ish"... but as Nick's influence affects her more and more, her "motherly" side really starts to show, and that eventual kiss at the finale - my gosh, that was SO beautiful. I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching that - or any Hallmark Christmas movies, for that matter. Amazing. Awesome.
The rest of this cast goes - without a doubt - some of the best. Matsui and Leggat, perfect Mrs. Claus shifters, Grey and McNally, portrayal of a very happy elderly couple(with great names in rhymes too!), and young Master Aiden Wojtak as the "rambuncious" Tyler... simply the best.
Great movie. Great cast. Great story. Great Santa portrayal. Wishing for way more this year.
Been a while since I saw the last young Santa Claus... that was 2006, with Master Tom Cavanaugh's Nick Snowden. He portrayed Santa really good. Man, now Master David Sutcliffe? Think I like the idea of having YOUNG Santa Clauses in Thanksgiving-Christmas movies - Santa Claus doesn't always have to be the traditional "white beard, big belly, ho ho ho, old man" figure, and getting younger males to portray Santa - as a store-costumed character or as a saintly character - really seems like a good idea.
Master Sutcliffe's Nicholas Smith character - his behaviour, his words, knowledge, actions and wisdom - they really are nothing short of saintly, and that reveal of his resume, of him being a CEO(instead of 'just a store Santa' like Meredith thought), pushes Nick to the point that he really IS Santa Claus. Also, I like Nick's temperament. Unlike some other Santa characters where their love interests fall out with them and they goes into a mopey mood, this Nick simply expresses his disappointment with deep cold and in perfect dignity, then carried on to work - something the Santa characters from movies like "Meet the Santas", "Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus", and "Merry In-laws" can learn.
Also, it's really cool to see Master Julie Benz portraying Meredith Rossman and costumed as Mrs. Claus alongside Master Sutcliffe, their chemistry was really good. Meredith gave an aura of "icy snow queen" first time she appears, as Nick commented, "Brrr, did it drop ten degrees in here?" Then for the most part, she's this typical "Christmas means sales" character like a lot of fictional and real-life business figures. But boy is Nick's Santa magic effective - slowly, under his influence, Meredith slowly begins to really accepts what the true essence of Christmas really is. Meredith said Mrs. Claus should be "kind, motherly", and should be "older-ish"... but as Nick's influence affects her more and more, her "motherly" side really starts to show, and that eventual kiss at the finale - my gosh, that was SO beautiful. I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching that - or any Hallmark Christmas movies, for that matter. Amazing. Awesome.
The rest of this cast goes - without a doubt - some of the best. Matsui and Leggat, perfect Mrs. Claus shifters, Grey and McNally, portrayal of a very happy elderly couple(with great names in rhymes too!), and young Master Aiden Wojtak as the "rambuncious" Tyler... simply the best.
Great movie. Great cast. Great story. Great Santa portrayal. Wishing for way more this year.