Genre: Family/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader, Shirley MacLaine, Julie Hagerty, Billy Eichner, Michael Gross
Description: Santa’s daughter Noelle (Anna Kendrick) finds herself to take over the family business when her father dies and her brother, who is supposed to inherit the role of Santa, gets cold feet.
Review: The title figure is the daughter of Santa Claus, who died recently. Her brother Nick inherits the title of Santa Claus, as has been done in the Kringle family for generations. But, Nick isn't waiting for that at all.
The story of “Noelle” is wafer-thin. The given itself is quite original: that Santa's title has been in the same family for centuries and that the eldest son always inherits it. It's a little bit like royalty. Also nice is that the next one in the line of 'succession to the throne' isn't really waiting for that at all. But: it's a Christmas movie and it's a Disney movie so you can count on it that everything will be all right. The movie only lasts an hour and a half because there are no subplots or other interesting storylines. It's all about saving Christmas and Santa's title. And that's fine, because that's all you have to expect.
With a different cast, "Noelle" would have been a significantly lesser film. The casting is really very good. Anna Kendrick does what she's good at in the title role: playing a semi-unhanded but sweet person and of course her charisma is fantastic. She can even wear a predictable sweet movie well. Bill Hader is always good, whether he does soft SNL sketches or plays a more serious role like he did recently in "It: Chapter 2". He was really phenomenal in that. As Nick Kringle, he could have gotten a bit more screen time. And Shirley MacLaine is a living legend. Even though her role is really awful, not a bad word about this beautiful lady.
"Noelle" is a really sweet movie. Sugar sweet if I may say so. The only thing missing is the cast that spontaneously bursts into carols, but there is actually no singing in this movie. Furthermore, you can assume that everyone gets a 'they lived happily ever after', even the somewhat cranky cousin and the irritating owner of the mall. Can you feel where the story is going? Yeah, sure. Already in almost the first scene. Is that bad? Not like that. It's what you'd expect from a Disney Christmas movie. It doesn't make the message any less. But if you don't like predictable, sweet, sweet movies, you better skip "Noelle".
This is obviously really a family movie. There is no swearing in it ('oh my garland' is the strongest scream the Kringles use), there is no romance in it (no kiss on the cheek yet) and there are cute critters in it. Which is also a point of criticism because: the CGI in "Noelle" is just not good. The little white reindeer Snowcone looks like he belongs in another movie. The budget has clearly gone to the cast and not to the special effects. But for the kids the Snowcone cuddles will be hard to find.
All in all, “Noelle” is a great Christmas movie. You know what you're getting into and you won't get anything extra. This is sweet, predictable and sweet, but still it is a nice movie to watch in between.
Rating: 3/ 5
