This holiday film is different from other holiday telefilms, as it centers around an actual Santa Bootcamp. Which is a holiday concept, I’ve never seen in a film before. But it’s fun…not the best but still entertaining.
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TITLE: Santa Bootcamp
FILM YEAR: 2022
DURATION: 98 Minutes
CHANNEL: Lifetime
Directed by Melissa Joan Hart
Written by Michael J. Murray
Story by John Stimpson, Geoffrey Taylor
Producer: Laura Francis, Kenneth Hirsch
Executive Producers: Irene Dreayer, Melissa Joan Hart, Paula Hart, Gina Rugolo
Line Producer: Jemma Jones
Music: Felix Bird
Cinematography: Ryan Galvan
Edited by Rob Pallatina
Casting by Rick Millikan
Production Design by Robert Wise
Art Direction by Lily Bolles
Costume Design by Anna Redmon
Starring:
Rita Moreno as Belle
Emily Kinney as Emily Strauss
Justin Gaston as Aiden
Marissa Jaret Winokur as Patti
John Schuck as Chris
Deanne Bray as Olive
Patrick Cassidy as Ed Mancini
Valerie Jane Parker as Caroline
When event planner, Emily, is hired by mall magnate, Ed to stage the Christmas Gala for his investors, Emily finds herself being sent to bootcamp “Santa Bootcamp” to find the perfect Santa and inspiration to make the evening a success. While there, she meets Belle, the bootcamp’s drill sergeant with a heart of gold, who helps Emily rediscover the magic of Christmas and find romance along the way.
It’s day 34 of the holiday marathon and the film I am reviewing is titled “Santa Bootcamp” and where we usually have actress Melissa Joan Hart as the primary actress, this time around, she is the main director.
The film is written by Michael J. Murray and stars the legendary actress Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”, “The King and I”, “Oz”), Emily Kinney (“The Walking Dead”, “Arrow”, “The Flash”), Justin Gaston (“Days of Our Lives”, “The Young and the Restless”), Marissa Janet Winokur (“Bupkis”, “Celebrity Big Brother”), Deanne Bray (“Heroes”, Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye”), John Schuck (“M*A*S*H”, “Star Trek IV: Voyage Home”, “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country”) and more.
And with this holiday telefilm, Melissa Joan Hart took on a holiday telefilm that is unique for its story and also incorporates sign language into the film (main character Emily and her mother communicate via sign language).
“Santa Bootcamp” revolves around Emily Strauss (portrayed by Emily Kinney) who works for a event planning business ran by her mother, Patti (portrayed by Marissa Jaret Winokur) and they desperately need a Santa for a Christmas Gala, which is thrown by mall magnate Ed Mancini (portrayed by Patrick Cassidy). And Ed wants Christmas magic with a special Santa..the best of the best.
Needing a Santa for one client, a reindeer for another, where is Emily going to find these things?
Well, there is a four-day program being ran by Belle (portrayed by Rita Moreno) which is a “Santa Bootcamp” to train people to be Santa, Santa’s wife, Santa’s elves and even reindeer. And Belle immediately pairs Emily with chef Aiden (portrayed by Justin Gaston). Both had no intention of taking part in the boot camp but for Aiden, he is a chef and he needs the recognition and Emily needs a Santa and a reindeer and more.
So, both take part in the “Santa Bootcamp”.
As mentioned, this holiday film is different from other holiday telefilms, as it centers around an actual Santa Bootcamp. Which is a holiday concept, I’ve never seen in a film before.
As weird as it may seem, the storyline is quite interesting, especially with the awkward protagonist Emily, as she is more work, work, work and really not so sure about being in a romance. But it’s also interesting to see Emily Kinney in a more laidback, wholesome role versus her character on “The Walking Dead”.
But for the most part, I liked seeing Rita Moreno in a major role again and also to see John Schuck again (playing Santa/Belle’s husband). But for the most part, it’s a fun holiday telefilm, not the best but definitely one that is different from any other holiday telefilm you have watched.
As for Melissa Joan Hart, while she has acted and produce, this is her third holiday telefilm after the very successful 2020 holiday telefilm “Feliz NaviDAD” (Hart had been working as a director for the “Young Sheldon” and the newer “iCarly” series).
