Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 10+
A festive holiday romance has soft language, drinks.
Videos and photos
Based on 4 opinions of parents
What is the story?
When divorced mom Lisa (Christina Moore) meets single lawyer Tom (John Ducey) on the 4th of July at the beginning of I BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS, they immediately know they’re interested in each other. Tom gets along great with Lisa’s daughter Ella (Violet McGraw) and seems like the perfect partner. Lisa’s best friend, Sharon (Lateefah Holder), and Tom’s best friend, Assan (Sachin Bhatt), support their relationship. But there’s a problem, which Lisa discovers a few months later as the Christmas season begins: Tom is a Christmas fanatic who still believes in Santa Claus. Deciding that they can’t let this ruin their fledgling relationship, Lisa agrees to join Tom in his annual Christmas festivities, which include large decorations and days out. But in the end it all proves too much for Lisa and she gives up. Will they be able to overcome the hump of such a difference in beliefs and continue their relationship?
Is it good?
Offering a twist on the usual holiday romance, this film uses a relationship as a premise to question the meaning of Christmas (not the other way around). I believe in Santa Claus The idea that Santa Claus is a global presence that transcends state and religion and turns our world into something magical every year is a relatively serious debate among the characters. On the one hand is the man who would rather be wrong to believe in something magical; on the other hand, a woman who thinks that Santa Claus is a lie and who has come to represent basic consumption. It’s almost enough to make you believe, or at least want to.
What is not so compelling is the relationship between Tom and Lisa. Real-life husband and wife Ducey and Moore show surprisingly little chemistry in this film. The lack of any real desire makes the film family-friendly, but also a little bad at romance. And the Santa Claus debate might be inappropriate for younger viewers. Religious viewers might have trouble comparing the belief in Santa Claus to the belief in God. BFFs Sharon and Assan seem to have been written solely to complement the main characters and add variety, as we don’t learn much about them, especially Sharon.
Talk to your kids about…
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Families can discuss their feelings about Tom’s passion for Christmas and his belief in Santa Claus I believe in Santa Claus. Do you believe in Santa Claus? Why, or why not? If you did when you were younger and not anymore, why did you stop?
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What are some of the messages of this movie about Christmas? What do holidays mean to you?
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The actors who play Tom and Lisa are married in real life. Can you tell? How do you think that affects their acting?
Did we miss something about diversity?
Research shows a link between children’s healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in the media. That’s why we’ve added a new “Different Representations” section to our reviews that will be published on an ongoing basis. You can help us help children