"Finding Santa: A Christmas Adventure" is a holiday film from TriCoast Worldwide and directed by Jacob Ley. The film tells the story of Julius, a Christmas loving orphan who lives in a children's home overseen by a kindly old man, Alfred. Alfred is fond of Julius, and this breeds resentment from some of the other kids. After they cruelly ruin the magic of Christmas for Julius, he encounters some real magic and finds himself interjected into a conflict between Santa Claus and Krampus.
The story is heartwarming, especially in the first act where we see life at the children's home. It was almost a shame to get to the magical, fairy tale aspects. But at the end of the day, the plot is only serviceable , lacking any major twists in the second half. Our cast of characters is likable, though we don't get to know them that well, besides Julius. He is kindhearted and soft, but insecure, changing his behavior when he is afraid that the other kids will pick on him. Unfortunately, one of his primary motivations, to discover how he came to be at the orphanage, is handwaved away, spoiling some potential drama and plot twists. The antagonists of the movie, Krampus and two bullies, Greg and Squeak, are given sympathetic motivations, though it would have been nice to see a little more of Krampus, he manages to come across as somewhat menacing though, which is enough for this sort of film. The supporting characters are given personality, but little story of their own. Aesthetically, the film flirts with the uncanny valley, with character designs that look like wooden dolls. It does have a charm of its own, though, and might grow on you as the film progresses. The animation is also a bit stilted, but that is forgivable, this isn't a big budget blockbuster. Aside from those minor flaws, the visual appeal of the movie is undeniable. The folksy world where Julius lives with the other children is juxtaposed by the magic of the Christmas world, with bright colors and decorations. The visual tones shift well, as the narrative progresses, to keep the appropriate mood. The composition and lighting of the film are also to be praised. Almost any frame could be pulled from the movie and used as an illustration from a children's picture book. While it is not a perfect film, "Finding Santa: A Christmas Adventure" is a delightful movie that would help pass the time on any Christmas Eve, perhaps becoming a defining memory of a young one's childhood holidays. "Finding Santa: A Christmas Adventure" is currently available for streaming on platforms like Vudu and iTunes. TriCoast Entertainment requested this review and provided a free copy of the film. No restrictions were placed on Carthannas Reviews' ability to express its own views.
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AuthorPeter Kneusel Archives
July 2020
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