Christmas on TV: Naughty or Nice (2012)

Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie 2012 #6

Going into this movie, my deepest fear was that Hilarie Burton's character would be the daughter, granddaughter, or other type of relative of Santa Claus. I think we can all agree that that angle on a made-for-TV Christmas movie has been done and done again, mostly in ways it shouldn't have been done. Luckily, Burton plays only a woman with the unfortunate name of Krissy Kringle (apparently given to her by the parents from Family Ties who reunite for five minutes of screen time) and is in no way related to the other Kris Kringle.

As the movie opens, Krissy Kringle's life is imploding: she loses her job, is getting nasty looks from her neighbors on Candy Cane Lane for not decorating her house for Christmas, and can't figure out why her boyfriend of six years hasn't proposed. (But what I can't figure out is why her boyfriend, played by Matt Dallas of Kyle XY, chooses to dress like Mr. Rogers when he's a lawyer and could easily dress like a cast member of Suits.) Because of her name and address, she receives a plethora of letters to Santa, along with a magical book that reveals the Naughty or Nice deeds of everyone she wants dirt on.

I felt that this movie cleverly included fantasy elements without being too over-the-top or annoying, although it could have done without the Santa Claus scene at the end. Much of the credit goes to the actors who really do provide the kind of performances that can transform a so-so script into a highly watchable film. Hilarie Burton in particular carried her role with grace, seldom overacting or giving a melodramatic performance that can turn an audience against a main character.

The best part of this movie? The sidekick elf who became Hilarie's best friend in the movie. He gave her great advice, he supported her at her street's dumb holiday party, he turned her dead-end job into a laugh a minute, he wore an elf suit in solidarity with her, he encouraged her to fight for her old job and stand up for herself with her boyfriend...and the list goes on and on. I mean, he was the kind of friend you tell your strangest secrets to, like "I somehow have Santa's Naughty and Nice list and it's telling me the best and worst deeds of everyone I know"--and he'll believe you without being a bit flabbergasted, and even if you've only known him for a few days. You can't buy friends like that. He was easily the most watchable part of the movie, but he got absolutely no reward for being charming. We didn't get to see him find a new romance, reunite with a long lost family member, or even get the gift he'd always wanted. He didn't even get a new job. In my opinion, he deserved a happy ending even more than Krissy Kringle did. Hallmark Channel, this guy should have a movie!