Movie Review: Noelle

Anna Kendrick Sleighs It In This New Christmas Film

Noelle is a modern take on old Christmas movie tropes that somehow manages to be very endearing, but not annoying. The movie stars Anna Kendrick, and Bill Hader as Santa's children with Bill's character, Nick having to become the new Santa. When Nick disappears before his debut however, it is up to Anna Kendrick's Noelle to not only save the day, but also learn something about herself along the way. 

The movie begins with adult Noelle's voice narrating about why she loves Christmas, and going into a flashback scene in which we learn that she, and her brother are indeed Santa's kids. We then flash forwards years later, and find out that the last Santa had just passed away, and now Nick must become the new Santa. Although he had been training for it his whole life, Nick so far is the worst Santa yet. Noelle's mother asks her to help train her brother as she is well versed in how Santa works. She also lays down some foreshadowing information, such as; Santa can tell who is naughty or nice just by looking at them, and tell what they want, Santa can also understand, and speak every language in the world. Remember this folks. For Nick however, all of this is too much for him, and his sister doesn't quite understand at all since no one had ever expected anything from her, all she has to do is make her Christmas cards. Upon hearing about how stressed he is though, Noelle suggests that he go off somewhere for the weekend, which he gladly takes up on. A week later however, he has not returned, though the sleigh, and reindeer have. With Nick missing, the blame is pinned on Noelle who had suggested he take a break. They are also forced to make their cousin Gabe who works in the Tech Department the new Santa, which he reluctantly accepts. Being worried for her brother however, Noelle sets out to find Nick.

With some investigating, Noelle is able to figure out that Nick must've ran off to Phoenix, Arizona, which is the polar opposite of their home, The North Pole. If you think my jokes/puns are bad, you should just watch at least fifteen minutes of this movie. In the middle of the night Noelle is able to get the reindeer together, when her nanny Elf Polly is accidentally swept up into the adventure. They make their way to Phoenix, and land in the middle of a shopping mall's plaza. The mall's manager, Helen Rojas confronts them of course not believing that they are from the North Pole, and such. However, seeing as how much attention the Reindeer are bringing in she sees this as an opportunity to maybe finally get the money for her dream vacation to Hawaii. It is also seen that she has a crush on the Petco employee that works within the complex. Polly stays with the reindeer while Noelle heads out into the city to try, and find Nick. Of course she comes across many people dressed as Santa for their job, but she sees it as "Naughty". Eventually she comes across an ad for a Private Investigator named Jake (Played by Kingsley Ben-Adir), and heads to his office to meet with him. Turns out Jake is a recently divorced man with a young son, and he surprisingly doesn't become the love interest, wow congrats Disney for avoiding one whole trope!

Jake reluctantly decides to help Noelle on her search after she helped him out with his phone being dead. The first day doesn't yield many results, but on the next day not only does Noelle get to meet Jake's young son, Alex, they also get a lead on where Nick may be. Before they get to that point though, they go to a homeless shelter where Noelle meets a young deaf girl, and her mom, where she tells Noelle that her wish is for her mother to get a job. After that scene we find out Nick had opened his very own Yoga studio in Phoenix, and Nick tells Noelle that he has no intention on returning to the North Pole. He also calls her out on her selfishness as she was mainly worried about her own reputation at the North Pole. Back at the shopping mall, Noelle sees that her baby reindeer friend, Snowcone has followed her there with a letter from her mother. The letter reveals that Gabe has developed an algorithm that decided there is only 2,837 nice children in the world based on superficial data. He is also planning on using Amazon Prime to deliver, thus ruining the entire Christmas spirit. Noelle now knows that she has to get Nick back. With Snowcone's help she is able to find Nick at a yoga getaway camp, she heads over there, and gives Nick the letter. Upon returning, thinking she failed, Nick arrives at the shopping mall.

Noelle tries to spark some Santa magic in Nick by having him ask kids what they want for Christmas. Though during this part we can see clearly Noelle understanding not only an Indian child, but also is able to tell who is naughty or nice with just a look, hmm, I wonder what this could mean? Noelle then accidentally attacks a police officer, and is taken to a mental ward because of her "Christmas Delusions". Although with help from Jake, Nick, and Polly she is able to escape, and return to the North Pole with everyone, excluding Jake. Upon arrival, Nick announces that he isn't a good Santa, but Noelle is. At first everyone is shocked, and unwilling to accept a female Santa, though since there are not any rules stating women can't be Santa, Noelle prepares for her first Christmas Eve. At first she is messing up very easily, though after revisiting the homeless shelter with the deaf girl, it clicks with Noelle, and the rest of the night goes off without a hitch. She even gives Jake a short ride in the sleigh, and takes him to Alex, as that was Alex's Christmas wish. We then get a small epilogue where everything is fine, and dandy now; Noelle successfully establishes herself as the new Santa, she makes Elf Polly the first female Elder Elf (Which she somewhat regrets), Nick is allowed to open a Yoga studio in the North Pole, and also I guess Gabe was forgiven despite almost ruining Christmas. Well that was Noelle.

Noelle is... fine. It isn't that great, it's fairly predictable, very cheesy, at least the feminist message isn't too forced. Noelle is good, but not that good. Then again most Christmas movies are quite meh, probably because they have to rely on the tropes set out before them. At least Noelle took those tropes, and tried something new with them. For the effort put in, I give the movie a 3 out of 5 paws up.