Secret Santa (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Ian Barry

Writers (WGA):

Beth Polson (story)
Robert Tate Miller (teleplay)

Release Date:

14 December 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Tagline:

She set out to uncover Santa...and discovered the best gift to open is your heart.

Plot:

Newspaper reporter Rebecca Chandler, who feels she got no fair chance to prove her worth in her thee years career...

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Jennie Garth	...	Rebecca Chandler
Steven Eckholdt	...	John Martin Carter
Charles Robinson	...	Russell (as Charlie Robinson)
Joel McKinnon Miller	...	Harley
Victor Raider-Wexler	...	Bob
Josh Randall	...	Ryan
Kathryn Joosten	...	Winifred
Sam Anderson	...	Mr. Gibson
Marnette Patterson	...	Callie
Cody Fleetwood	...	Scotty
Barbara Billingsley	...	Miss Ruthie
Marilyn O'Connor	...	Betty
Fiona Hale	...	Beatrice
Nick Pietropaolo	...	The maitre'd
John A. Keim	...	Santa Claus (as John Keim)

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials) | Brazil:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Madison Avenue Productions Inc.

Goofs:

Continuity: John Martin Carter hands Rebecca the same glass of apple cider twice at the mayor's Christmas party.

Quotes:

Russell: Giving is its own reward.

Movie Connections:

References A Christmas Story (1983)

Unexpected Absolutely Delightful Treat!

Each year at Christmas in the humble hamlet of Hamden, Indiana a Secret Santa anonymously gives a gift of great monetary and personal value to someone in need. Each year the `big city' Indianapolis newspaper runs a story but never until now did they send a reporter to cover the story up close and personal. This year Rebecca the fluff reporter, played by Jennie Garth, is sent by her Editor to get the job done. When she arrives she's eager to discover who is the man or woman behind the gift giving. The writing, directing and acting from start to finish is very good bringing out a nice amount of humor and is also able to touch the soul with deep emotion. Less than a half hour into Secret Santa I had some tears in my eyes and that continued with more touching moments now and again throughout. The cast is magnificently charming with Jennie Garth, Barbara Billingsley and Charlie Robinson shining bright. The story isn't preachy by any means, not terribly predictable and in fact is quite a nice little mystery up until near the very end. What's a shame about this, in a way, is that it will only be shown in December because it's a Christmas movie. Secret Santa should be shown at any time during the year because the message of selfless giving is one that everyone can benefit from not only at Christmastime. Including those that are Made-for-TV there are a LOT of Christmas movies. I haven't seen them all but I've seen a majority and automatically with just one viewing this has got to be one of my three or four very favorite. It's not the best movie ever made by any means but I would most definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone any month at all. This is a rare Christmas gem. My grade for this WONDERFUL movie: A!