The Search for Secret Santa (2022 TV Movie) User Reviews

True love endures even 50 years

[Jackbv123 · 6/10 · 7 December 2022]

This is actually a decent mystery with moderate complexity for a TV movie in a 2 hour time slot. The acting is ok. The dialogue is ok and doesn't get cliché like some gumshoe mysteries. The romance between Sophia and Jackson doesn't really make sense. Sophia does what is one of my pet peeves about amateur detective mysteries - she constantly takes big risks many endangering her life.

This movie is not typical of a Christmas movie in the sense of the usual Christmas activities. The only Christmas connections are the Secret Santa present which is a nutcracker. The background score is a little more intense than I'd like especially for a Christmas movie.

More of a comment than a review

[stevehmarshall · 9 February 2023]

Do the people who put this stuff on this website even read the description? Do they watch the movie? This one says "...Secret Santa gift addressed from B. To Claire.", Well, I watched it, and there's no Claire character in it or even mentioned.

The entire description, including the reference to B. And Claire, appears in several movie review sites. So it looks like somewhere sometime somebody wrote it, and it got distributed to many sites, and then somewhere along the line, apparently in the writing process, the character names got changed, but they never went back and corrected the description.

The movie itself was just OK; kind of confusing actually, trying to keep track of all the people's names she uncove4red in her search.

Particularly poor

[shirleyatsegment · 3/10 · 9 November 2023]

Generally I soak up such Christmas fluff with appreciation. Usually ideal for a restful afternoon with a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket and cat on my knee just taking in the picture perfect American locations and dispensing with reality. However this is laughable. I began watching an hour ago and just got to the point where I realised I would be better off warning others not to bother.

The acting is very weak - especially the editor on the phone - her bright orange scarf has to work hard to tone down the "look at me, I'm the best thing in this" vibe - and as for the criminal fraternity...one even has an eye-patch to make sure we know he's a villain because we all love a stereotype!

The cub reporter is cheery enough but writes an article indicating she has a precious antique in her unlocked apartment and heeds no warnings from her soon to be love interest - who is an expert in such heirlooms (of course). He instantly finds a possible Royal connection from a suitable dynasty who lives on the edge of town but...hold it... the object is cursed!

Meanwhile Ernie the janitor/building manager has all the hallmarks of knowing more than he lets on... from first meeting.

The direction is therefore heavy handed, the story inexcusably unconvincing and the writing is clunky and provides no pace.

The stars I have awarded are for the use of the Nutcracker music and the germ of a good idea which is poorly executed.

It wasn't a five dollar limit!

[adamjohns-42575 · 4/10 · 20 November 2023]

The Search For Secret Santa (2022) -

It was a shame that this wasn't a better film, because Alex Trumble in his role of Jackson was cute and I felt that he deserved more. Although he was a tad overexcitable at times and very goofy at others. Skye Coyne was fine in her role of Sofia too, although the character was a big annoying, but not as frustrating as Perry the Newspaper Editor. Why do these films keep hiring Jackée Harry? In this role and every other character I've seen her play, she was absolutely farcical. She's so ridiculous.

The lesbian best friend Nancy (Grace Dillon) was not a good actor and Ernie (Eamon Hunt) wasn't that brilliant either. His character was so obviously dodging Sofia's questions about the Secret Santa gift too.

However, nobody was as awful as the criminals, who were like something from the Adam West 'Batman' (1966-8) TV series. They were so corny. The Boss even had an eye patch for Christ's sake! And the story really didn't need the crooks at all, so many other of these films have done it without that farce.

As for the actual gift in the Secret Santa box, there was NO WAY that it was an antique and those were definitely NOT real jewels decorating it.

Also, I assume that 'The Nutcracker' music is available in the public domain, because so many of these films use the tunes. It would be nice if they could be a bit more original sometimes. It's set at Christmas already, use a different, ordinary item for a change.

Overall, it was a bit too much 'Aurora Teagarden Mysteries' (2019-) and a bit less charming Christmas film.

The end was pure cheese too!!!! I won't be watching this one again.

4.24/10.

LOOK OUT! IT'S A TREASURE HUNTER!

[madeline-rosene · 1/10 · 26 December 2023]

Thanks to this movie, I am aware of the scourge of treasure hunters that plague our world.

Tip: you can sometimes identify them by their patch eye.

Be sure to hide all of your treasures from them. You never know if maybe even your friend who works as a college history professor and midnights at the local kick knack store may also be a treasure hunter.

I also learned that if you unbox a Christmas nutcracker that looks like it's straight off a Walmart shelf, it may in fact be an ancient royal relic from Hungary. Be sure to check the stamp on the bottom of it. Even if it looks like the glued-on "jewels" are made of plastic, they are probably actually 2K diamonds. It's DEFINITELY handmade and it's worth somewhere between valuable to priceless.

Christmas movie for everyone!!!! Great all around - especially the acting!

[irossi911 · 10/10 · 5 December 2022]

So, to begin with - I love ALL of these movies you guys make. And this one ESPECIALLY was heart warming. Beautiful - the story - the music - and especially the ACTING! SKYE COYNE was incredible as the lead - I would watch EVERY ONE of the movies she's in over and over again - she deserves to be in all of your movies. The charisma, reactions, and chemistry she shared, as the lead, with the rest of the cast was amazing. Her and Jackee's scenes were hilarious. Alex as the romantic lead was incredibly charismatic. I loved the twists and turns with his character as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this holiday movie. Thank you for making it!