Review

I Believe in Santa: Jingle All the Not-So-Way

Prepare yourself for a sleigh ride through a winter wonderland of clichés, as "I Believe in Santa" takes the cake—or should I say the fruitcake?—for being one of the most predictably delightful yet hilariously absurd holiday romps this side of the North Pole.

The plot is a gingerbread house of holiday tropes, where our protagonist, with the sunny disposition of a Hallmark holiday movie devotee, suddenly challenges his reality by professing undying belief in Santa Claus. You can hear the collective ring of jingle bells heralding yet another yuletide epiphany. To be honest, it feels like the movie was concocted by someone who’s spent one too many nights marathoning Hallmark movies, sipping cocoa, and wondering why the decorations in their neighborhood don't randomly start glittering with Christmas magic.

Our heroine, meanwhile, is a sensible, Christmas-skeptic, because, of course, every frosty plot needs a voice of reason who will inevitably melt like a snowman in a sauna. As Love Interest No. 1 (played with all the subtlety of a reindeer wearing sunglasses), she embarks on a journey that’s as predictable as it is charming. The answer to her Scrooge-like heart? A dude who believes Santa delivers Amazon packages now.

The film wraps itself in layers of cozy performances and bursts of giggles, mostly unintentional. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you crossed a Hallmark movie with a sugar rush after devouring a tin of holiday cookies, well, here’s your answer. The director somehow manages to transform even the most mundane moments into a festive feast. Hang a stocking on your TV remote, because once this holiday ride begins, there's no turning down the tinsel.

This 2022 gem asks us to suspend disbelief—or at least hang it out with the mistletoe. To the film’s credit, it excels at guiding you to a familiar yuletide place, where belief in Santa is all you need to keep the fireplace of holiday spirit warm. So grab your eggnog, put on your favorite reindeer sweater, and get ready to unwrap a Christmas movie experience that's a stocking full of cheesy, delightful fun. Just beware: you might find yourself humming "Jingle Bells" for days.