While at D23 earlier this year (Disney’s huge-ass convention in Anaheim), I copped an early peek at the trailer for one of the first OG flicks to land on Disney+, a Christmas movie called Noelle.
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It’s my way of thinking that Christmas movies fall into two categories: The super cheesy, Lifetime-esque ones that rely on your penchant for the holiday season to be enjoyable (Holiday In The Wind, A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish etc), and the hilarious, wholesome, well-written ones that are great fucken films that just ~happen~ to be about Christmas (The Holiday, Love Actually etc).
So which category does Noelle fall into?
I’d say it sits somewhere in the middle.
Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick plays Santa Claus’ daughter Noelle in this satirical Christmas comedy.
After her brother Nick (played by the hilarious Bill Hader) goes awol, Kendrick’s character is forced to take over the fam business of delivering pressies to the kiddos of the world.
At its core, the movie’s message is a powerful one that absolutely deserves to be told in a Christmas film: That female leaders can do what males can, only better.
As Noelle vows to take on the gig, many protest that “Santa is a man!” But Noelle persists, proving that this and other outdated sexist tropes need to be ditched if we expect to find a better way.
Sounds like a v. heavy message to bake into a Christmas film but the writers do it in a way that’s more spirited than protest-y which makes it enjoyable but purposeful viewing.
Shoutout to the modern spin on the Santa Claus / North Pole tale, depicting Santa’s workshop as an Ebay or Amazon-type vibe.
Other standouts include the adorable hovering reindeer – have a go at it below, will ya?
Look, it defs hasn’t knocked any of my top three fave Xmas flicks off their lofty perch (Christmas With The Kranks, The Grinch and Jingle All The Way, in case you were wondering), but it’s certainly a great palette cleanser among the influx of corny Chrissy movies.
So when Aunt Susan is done lecturing you on why you should lower your standards and settle for any Tom, Dick or car-as-profile-pic loser on the dating apps, whack on Noelle for some empowered holiday cheer.
