Get Santa

There is something great about being able to watch a British Christmas film as they appear to be few and far between. If you throw in a bit of porridge and Jim Broadbent then you have an enjoyable film called Get Santa. The plot is delightfully playful with Santa (Jim Broadbent) crashing a new sleigh in London and ending up behind bars. This innocent old man has to survive. However help is at hand!

Rafe Spall recently released from the same prison manages to get the barber, the excellent Stephen Graham to offer help to Santa while he is inside. The results are hilarious. Meanwhile Rafe Spall and Kit Connor (his on screen son) set about trying to get everything sorted out. I’ll tell you no more about the plot except to say it works well and is delight.

When you have children it’s hard sometimes to know whether they ought to watch such a film if they still believe in Santa. This is a safe film totally watchable from that point of view yet hugely enjoyable for adults as well. Unlike US films there is no schmaltz, no tugging at the heart strings just a very good way to spend 90 minutes.

At one point in the film they are at a tower in Norfolk and I couldn’t help thinking about Harry Potter as what follows at the tower is a lovely moment of fun as our two heroes escaping from the chasing police end up in Lapland.

Joanna Scanlan is hilarious as the Probation Officer with her pet toad.

All in all an excellent addition to our Christmas Fayre!


Four stars

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