Summary
A festive, over-the-top caper that blends nostalgic action vibes with a knowing modern touch, bringing larger-than-life Christmas characters into an explosive, wildly entertaining holiday spectacle.
The only thing in steeper decline than mainstream Christmas films at this time of year is perhaps the ‘Santa movie.’ Yet here we are in 2024, and Amazon-MGM is dropping a $250 million seasonal gift like we’re part of the biggest, movie-themed Kris Kringle exchange.
Taking the throwback route to Christmas action, director Jake Kasdan and Fast & Furious series writer Chris Morgan channel a blend of Die Hard and Scrooged, crafting a holiday blockbuster with all the wild escalation of a modern event film.
The plot is simplicity itself: Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) heads up Santa’s security team. Disillusioned with the growing Naughty List, he’s ready for retirement—but when Santa (J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped by a former foe (Kiernan Shipka), Drift teams up with deadbeat dad and mercenary tracker Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) to save Christmas.
We’ve seen this buddy-comedy formula enough to recite it by heart, from Aruba to Germany, black ops sites to toy store basements. One cynical father’s redemption arc is all that’s missing to ensure a holiday save. Yet somehow, it’s the little details that make this reindeer-driven sleigh take off. Kristofer Hivju is perfectly cast as Krampus, adding depth to the Santa mythos. Santa’s workshop leans more Arthur Christmas than Elf, yet feels entirely fitting. Yes, my unabashed Santa love probably makes me biased, but damn if it isn’t a riot of cynical fun.
With bombastic action and Marvel-worthy effects, Drift wields an Ant-Man-style gadget that can grow and shrink toys on command, blending right into this magical world. The giant CG snowmen continue the theme of jacked Christmas figures, making for an exciting punch-out in the Caribbean.
The cast is spot-on: Simmons is a fully jacked Santa, carbing up on cookies while Johnson spots him at the gym; Shipka eats up every scene, and Lucy Liu as the head of M.O.R.A. (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority) brings a ‘Men in Black’ vibe to the Santa universe, hinting at a potential spin-off.
This high-concept swing is rare in today’s franchise-heavy landscape, and while box office numbers may keep films like this on streaming in the future, it captures something of a family film—brimming with explosions, winks, and a few heartfelt speeches. As I left the cinema, I overheard a kid imitating Krampus’s sleigh, transported for a few hours to a magical world. At that moment, I was taken right back to December 1985 and Santa Claus: The Movie. Is it any wonder I still devour Christmas films by the bucketful—or that I still believe in Santa?
2024 | USA | DIRECTOR: Jake Kasdan | WRITERS: Chris Morgan (Based on a story by Hiram Garcia) | CAST: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J. K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka | DISTRIBUTOR: Amazon MGM Studios (USA), Warner Bros. Pictures (International) | RUNNING TIME: 123 minutes | RELEASE DATE: 15 November 2024 (USA), 22 November 2024 (Australia)
