Catch Me If You Claus

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Magandang pelikula!

Great comedy movie with a little rom thrown in. Luke MacFarlane is back! This character suits his method of acting and doesn't fail to entertain. He was in a couple of recent Christmas movies that were so bad I wondered if Hallmark had put him on the shelf. But this and the one with Ashley Williams has brought him back. His pairing with Italia Ricci was a great choice. Some speak of chemistry between actors, I think these two also show respect for one another. The creators also made a holiday movie without the need to have a child in it to show the joy of Santa. Actors terrific, story great, can't help but get that feel good feeling and even laugh, and you must watch if only to catch a ride to somewhere warm.

Was this a comedy? The mystery movies this year have been a bit off with so muchhhhhh talking! Non stop! There seems to be some big story but all the convoluted stories, scenes, and running around, then circling back, just made it hard to follow. Santa didn't feel like Santa. Security guards are more trustworthy than police. This wanna be reporter tries to come out from under her mom's shadow, and there's a bunch of people at the news station and no one else to report the news? The magic of Christmas just wasn't in this movie. The very long make out scene so seemed very un- hallmark like. Also a random name drop of Beyoncé. Why are they name dropping celebs this year? Just stay in the hallmark snow globe not reality. This movie felt like a mess of a ride but I guess this is how all the mystery movies are. There's probably some appeal and certain audience that really like the chase of the clues and try to figure them out before the end but I lose interest half way and really don't care about the ending.

Yes Virginia, I mean Avery, there really is a Santa Claus. There is Santa magic but not as smooth as you are used to. Santa's son is on his first delivery mission and things are a little messed up. If you have seen the previews you know that he get's tied up by Avery. Meanwhile, Avery just wants to get to sleep so she is fresh for her debut as anchor at channel 71 news. Things are wild and crazy and get more complicated for the Avery and Chris. They get mistaken for the "fake Santa thief" but there is more to it than that. Luke Macfarlane is perfect for this and he has great chemistry with Italia Ricci. Avery seems to bring out the best in Chris and vice versa. The script is great. The dialogue is funny. The comedic timing is good. I'm not sure if this would be great for kids. There are bad guys and threatening thugs. Thing is, I don't remember seeing any guns and no real bodily harm. Santa exemplifies positive and honest values.

Hallmark has a new style of romcom which can only be described in one word: hilarious! This movie makes a shiny exhibition of the comic chops of romcom favorite, Luke MacFarlane. The title of this movie is reminiscent of a film with a similar name, revealing that there's more to this romcom than meets the eye. When a little Christmas Eve/Morning investigation ensues: Who will be discovered? Who will be on the run? Who will be captured? Who will kiss at the end? Will it be Santa? Must be Santa! (Or, will it?) Invite your friends to sleigh ride over. As you watch this movie, don't be surprised if you catch yourself smiling with Santa.

I had a lot of fun with this one. I've seen Luke McFarlane play a lawyer, a tutor, a stuffy businessman and a tree farmer, but now all of a sudden he's Santa Claus' son. He plays this over the top (the New Yo-uk) accent was inspired) and provides laughs all through. I've never seen Italia Ricci play anything, but she was the perfect choice as they had excellent chemistry and bounced zingers off each other throughout. The plot involves a news anchor on the eve of her big break, who believes she is capturing the Santa Claus burglar, a local criminal who has been in the news, but in reality she's captured the son of Santa Claus during his first night taking over for dad. His pleas fall on deaf ears until she realizes things don't add up, and the two determine to solve the mystery before sunup. This is a well-written, well thought out story, fun for teens and up. There's some bad guys that might scare little kids. This will make a nice addition to the Hallmark lineup in the next few years. Thankful that Hallmark has gotten back to what made them so good and the agenda has been dialed way back this year, although the commercials....

Hallmark comes with their version of a Christmas farce-caper, probably with the aim of appealing to many tastes and ages. It seems that, with the coming new installation of the "Haul out the Holly" saga, which I have, personally, found idiotic, and other entries to come, they have decided that ingredients like mystery and farce may add flavor to their productions, progressively hampered by a vanishing Christmas spirit. In this, they cannot claim any originality, either. ION TV has overused the concept in the last couple of seasons. Here stars Luke Mc Farlane, memorable for several enjoyable, when not brilliant, roles in the past. In my opinion, he seems somewhat uneasy in this one, and definitely subpar, as a result. The film walks the thin line between cute and silly, with some undeniably charming moments and many others that feel trite, when not awkwardly stupid. Italia Ricci, whom I like an respect, is kind of wasted in the hodge-podge. In the attempt to provide too many things, the movie ends up not charming enough for children, not funny enough for adults, inane as a mystery, and rather insipid for the romantic viewers. It does have some attractive moments and is suitable viewing for all ages, for which I would not classify it as a total failure. Where has Christmas Spirit gone, though?

10 for originality on the part of Hallmark. This movie is a screwball comedy similar to the ones made in the 1940s - lots of absurd plot twists, misunderstandings, confusion, and villains that practically twirl their mustaches. Justice prevails in the end and Christmas and the two leads' jobs are saved. The laughs are played up and the romance is downplayed for a change, but the romance is still there. Also a touching Christmas party with a troupe of actors, who have each other as a family, and welcome our two leads when they are on the run. Luke MacFarlane does his usual great job and has good chemistry with the lead actress. Just laugh and enjoy it!

Fortunately, there is good casting (Luke MacFarlane 👍as Chris, and the lovely, Italia Ricci, as Avery, in "Catch Me if you Claus", which will help you, at least partially overcome a big stretch taken on the legend of Santa Claus. If you are a soIemn "believer" you will be saddened, here, that being Santa is a learn-on-the-job responsibility, no longer held by the Kringle family, and that Santa can take a joyride on his sleigh in the off-season (nobody notices?)...In another borrowed theme this season, you can guess, by the title, this movie will be a fast-paced adventure. Chris is failing his first trek, as Santa, delivering gifts - he mis-delivered a gift, and has half-the-world, leftover, to complete his duty in less than 5 hours. Avery, on the other hand, has her biggest opportunity in her TV news career - anchoring the morning news, and yes, that's in a few hours. They get entangled in a criminal conspiracy involving the town mayor and a "Criminal Santa", who is actually an ex-employee, turned vigilante. Avery, who is well-aware of the APB out on Criminal-Santa, mistakenly apprehends Chris coming from her fireplace. He apparently has no Santa magic to break free, so the two of them, once she deduces Chris is the real-deal (he does have Santa's "sees-you", "knows-you", insights when convenient in the storyline) , team up to solve the crime. It's corny back and forth comical-action, but it does serve to draw our leads, Chris and Avery closer. It feels more like an endearing friendship is developing (a traumatic life-experience, together), but they get a long kiss in, under the guise of covering their faces to escape discovery by the mayor's henchmen. You can't fault Hallmark for venturing into non-exhausted plots; but this one, somewhat unique and whimsical, requires plenty of your attention for all of the scene changes. This pathway left me more relieved, than emotional about any good will or romance that could develop; therefore, as we draw closer to Christmas, I would move this farther down your watchlist... ..