Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Kris Kringle's daughter, Noelle, sets off on a mission to find and bring back her brother, after he gets cold feet when it's his turn to take over as Santa.
Noelle is a fairly formulaic holiday family film that follows predictable beats: reluctant heir, plucky female protagonist stepping up, heartwarming resolution. The plot offers little surprise and leans heavily on Christmas movie tropes. Anna Kendrick brings charm and energy to the lead role, elevating the material somewhat, and the supporting cast is serviceable. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable, typical of a Disney+ streaming production. The novelty is low — while the gender-flip on the Santa premise has a faint hook, the execution is by-the-numbers. The ending wraps up exactly as expected with no real surprise or emotional punch.