Starring: Jim Broadbent, Warwick Davis, Rafe Spall, Jodie Whittaker, Stephen Graham
Get Santa
Director: Christopher Smith
Rating: 4/5
The festive period is upon us and this time of year always results in a terrific Christmas movie hitting the big screen… 2014 is no different as Get Santa is set to give us that Xmas feeling this weekend.
I love this genre of film, as they are always terrific fun and really do capture the magical feeling that is created this time of year, and Get Santa is another great addition to this genre that can and will be enjoyed Christmas after Christmas.
It's days before Christmas and reindeer are found running loose through the streets of London. Meanwhile an astonished 9 year-old Tom (newcomer Kit Connor) discovers Santa (Broadbent) in the garden shed.
He has crash-landed while test-driving his new sleigh and enlists Tom and his father Steve (Spall) to help him get back to Lapland. But what happens when Santa is arrested and thrown into prison? Will Steve and Tom be able to break him out in time for Christmas? Get Santa is a heart-warming and funny family adventure about a father and son reconnecting to discover the magic of Christmas.
If you are looking for a family film that is perfect for this time of year, then Get Santa is one that is not to be missed and can be enjoyed by absolutely everyone - seriously, this movie is an awful lot of fun and will really get you into the Christmas spirit.
So many great actors have played Santa Claus over the years, and now it is the time of Jim Broadbent to take on this very special role - he did voice the character of Father Christmas in Arthur Christmas - and he really does shine in this terrific central role.
I have always been a big fan of Broadbent and it is great to such a fine actor having so much fun with a character and a role. He also gives a great dramatic performance, as does the fantastic Rafe Spall.
What I really liked about this movie is it is not just a dumb down and fluffy Christmas movie, as Christopher Smith explores some great adult themes, such as a father and son reconnecting, and this really does help anchor the film in reality.
Smith is best known for his horror movies with the likes of Severance and Creep under his belt in recent years, it is great to see him tackle a brand new genre and show his versatility as a filmmaker. His cross over into the festive family film really is a major triumph as he has delivered some that is as magical and enchanting as it is funny.
It is always great when you get to see a very different side of a director and Smith really has shown that he is so much more than guts and gore - I really do hope that he will continue to explore different genres with his future film projects.
Get Santa is a movie that will tug at the heartstrings of adults as it explores themes that they can relate to and understand, while kids will be entertained by the humour, fun and magic that Smith and his wonderful cast create.
It seems that almost every year a very special festive film comes along and Get Santa is one that really is not to be missed this December, as it really is a treat for everyone.