Noelle, the most recent Disney+ addition, is written and directed by Marc Lawerence and features Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader as Noelle and Nick Kringle, Santa’s children. The story follows Noelle as she finds herself having to bring Nick back after his leaving the North Pole for a so-called “vacation.” There, Noelle and her aunt Elf Polly (Shirley MacLaine) discover the real world that we human beings live in, as well as learning the true meaning behind Christmas. The important question about Noelle is, has Disney created something of a classic or something that no one will remember fifteen years from now?
Kendrick and Hader’s portrayal as sister and brother is interesting, given the Christmas cliche of the film. At first, it seemed too good to be true, but it lived up the hype. Anna Kendrick’s performance was brilliant, especially her interactions in the real world, from understanding what (out of all things) sunscreen was to why there’s nice and rude people in society. As for Bill Hader, he gives a great performance that’s blended well with comedy. His character has a straightforward backstory and we can easily understands why he, as Santa Claus’ son, must take on the role of Santa Claus in the present time.
Even though this film is a Disney+ exclusive, there are a couple of downfalls, the first of which is the excessive branding. Typically there is one brand strategically placed so that the audience may catch or recognize it. However, in Noelle, almost every real word scene Anna Kendrick is in has product placement. It gets annoying because this is supposed to be a Disney film, not an hour and a half long commercial ad for Christmas. It just ruins the film experience because you’re looking at brand after brand and just waiting for the film to be over instead of enjoying the film from start to finish. Another letdown is that Noelle doesn’t feel like a Disney movie, but more like a cheap, Hallmark TV movie. If you don’t know anything about the Hallmark channel, it’s a channel that churns out a lot of forgettable Christmas, romance, comedy, and family made to television movies that probably no one has heard of in their lives.
Overall, this film was a bit of a let down due to its Hallmark similarities and the boatload of ads. On the bright side, it was indeed a Christmas movie, largely thanks to the performances of Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader, along with its family friendly Christmas message regarding why people (good and bad) should celebrate Christmas with their families and friends. That being said, Noelle is meant for those that are interested in watching a quick and fun Christmas movie or just want to witness Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader in a family-comedy film. Just don’t expect this film to be a Christmas classic.
2.5/5 STARS