SPOILER WARNING:
Santa (Jay Brazeau) has just passed away, but, as everyone knows, Christmas must go on. With the big guy no longer able to deliver presents and Christmas cheer to the children of the world, Santa’s son, Nick Kringle (Bill Hader), must put his Santa training to the test and make Christmas just as wonderful as it’s been for the past two-thousand years as the new Santa Claus. When Nick panics and runs away from the North Pole, his sister, Noelle (Anna Kendrick) has to find him, bring him home and return balance to Christmas. With less than a week left until the best day of the year, Noelle’s back is against the wall; can she step up and save the day?
Noelle will forever be known as one of the Disney+ originals available on the first day of the streaming service, but this is far from its most defining feature. From beginning to end, Noelle is filled with extraordinary moments of love and grace that feels very Disney-esque. These moments help deliver a beautiful story that resonates with viewers in a fashion similar to other well-received Walt Disney films. Like many Disney films, the loss of a loved one (typically a parent) and an adorable sidekick are major factors in what takes place throughout Noelle. Everything about the film screams Disney, but what separates this film from Disney’s others (and nearly every other Christmas film) is Kendrick. She is what makes the film possible, and without her Noelle would experience struggles in terms of both production and reception.
Through everything that takes place throughout Noelle, the Christmas cheer, the mystery and the camaraderie, is geared toward the ideas of family, the film is very much about female empowerment. From the moment the film opens, it is made clear that Noelle is to be seen front and center, making her the most prominent force throughout this story of Christmas. While the stories of female empowerment can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming or drown out other aspects of a film, Kendrick beautifully delivers and allows viewers both to appreciate what’s taking place and question Noelle’s meaning--while remaining receptive to what writer-director Marc Lawrence has to say.
For the first time, in a very long time, there is an emotional attachment to Santa Claus that does more than just entice audiences and put a smile on their faces, it brings them close to tears. While actors like Tim Allen and Edward Asner deliver beautiful renditions of the beloved character, there is something far more emotionally trying about Kendrick’s version. It feels impossible not to root for Kendrick’s Santa Claus, as she, better than any other character in Noelle exemplifies what Christmas is and the emotional connection that the world has to the holiday. As her story unfolds and viewers come to understand the direction in which it is traveling, they fall in love with Noelle, both the story and the character.
It’s hard to compete with Christmas classics such as The Santa Clause, A Christmas Story and Santa Claus is Coming to Town, but Disney manages to create a film that does. Noelle is nothing short of a modern classic that engages viewers in a world of genuine Christmas cheer. Nothing says Christmas spirit quite like love, joy...and presents. Each of these aspects play an important role in Noelle, making it one of the better Christmas films of the past decade. Fun for children and adults alike, there are moments of laugh-out-loud comedy and heartwarming friendship that appeal to nearly everyone. Forget whatever skepticisms might keep you from watching Noelle, as every moment is sprinkled with a combination of both Disney and Christmas magic that is sure to entertain.
Written & Directed by Marc Lawrence. Starring Anna Kendrick, Shirley McClaine, Bill Hader, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Julie Hagerty, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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