You can always count on Disney for a more elevated Christmas movie. Not churned out by the dozen, instead all the focus goes into creating one decent watchable flick.
And in this case, that happens to be Noelle.
Noelle is a Christmas fantasy comedy film written and directed by Marc Lawrence.
It stars Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Billy Eichner, Julie Hagerty, and Shirley MacLaine.
What Is Noelle About?
Starring the charming Anna Kendrick in the lead role, Noelle is based on Santa's family, the Kringle's, in the North Pole and Noelle is Santa's daughter.
With each generation, the Santa hat passes to the next in line to carry on the annual gift-giving, and sadly, now that Santa Snr has passed away, that honour goes to his son Nick.
The problem is that Nick Bill Hader (Barry) isn't very good. He can't nail the roof landings with the sleigh despite a huge amount of practice in the village.
He can't automatically tell the naughty and nice children apart, and his language skills are rusty at best.
So, with the pressure of his first Christmas mounting, it's up to his sister, Noelle, to help him get to grips with the enormous task ahead of him.
When it all starts to get too much, she suggests a little weekend away so Nick can relax and return refreshed. But when Nick doesn't return, the North Pole descends into chaos, with everybody blaming Noelle.
To set things right, she commandeers the sleigh and the reindeer and, with her elf Nanny Polly (Shirley MacLaine) in tow, heads off to Arizona in search of her brother.
There's only one teeny issue. She has never been outside of the North Pole. She has no idea how to find Nick or deal with normal people.
Luckily, she manages to get private investigator Jake (Kingsley Ben-Adir, Soulmates) on the case.
So, can Jake and Noelle find Nick? Will she convince him to return to the North Pole by Christmas Eve?
Will Christmas even go ahead if she can't? Soooo many questions.
Noelle Official Trailer
Is Noelle Worth Watching?
This is Disney, so there are no cliffhangers, just everything wrapped up in a nice big Christmas bow.
Basically what you get is a cute and fun family Christmas story. It's entertaining and light-hearted, even if there is a little too much product placement peppered throughout.
If I were to be really critical, I would say that the hot weather of Arizona doesn't exactly lend itself to the Christmas feel of the film. But other than that, get the mulled wine and mince pies out and enjoy.
Noelle Movie Cast
Anna Kendrick as Noelle Kringle, the narrator and Santa's daughter who has to save Christmas.
Bill Hader as Nick Kringle, Kris's son
Shirley MacLaine as Elf Polly, Noelle's childhood nanny.
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Jake Hapman, a private detective who befriends Noelle.
Billy Eichner as Gabriel Kringle, who values cost-saving above the Christmas spirit.
Julie Hagerty as Mrs. Kringle, Noelle and Nick's mother
Jay Brazeau as Kris Kringle, Noelle and Nick's father and the 22nd Santa.
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