Director: Christopher Smith
Cast: Rafe Spall, Warwick Davis, Stephen Graham, Jim Broadbent
Running Time: 102 minutes
Rating: U
Synopsis: A father and son team up to save Christmas once they discover Santa Claus sleeping in their garage after crashing his sleigh and finding himself on the run from the police.
Starting off in prison might not seem like the most obvious choice for a Christmas family film but for GET SANTA it’s all about those prison walls. Steve (Rafe Spall) is out a couple of days before Christmas and must rebuild his relationship with young son Tom after two years inside. So when his son calls him and says Santa is trapped in his garage and needs his help, he finds himself caught up in the quest simply because he doesn’t want to let his son down again, even if it gets him in big trouble with his parole officer.
Rafe Spall leads the film well and newcomer Kit Connor does a superb job as his son Tom. Connor has the character of a child without being insufferable or overly manipulative – as is so often seen in films of this ilk – and the two together are a great team. It is Jim Broadbent, however, who completely steals the show as Father Christmas. A comedic take on Santa in prison could have been a disaster, yet Broadbent makes the character both sincere and hilarious – and not just thanks to his prison makeover.
GET SANTA has a great mixture of sincerity and silliness. There’s plenty to enjoy, for both the kids and adults, and some hilarious film references in there too! This is a lovely film, full of madcap adventure and great family fun.
Christmas has come early!
[usr=4] GET SANTA flies in to cinemas on Friday 5 December.
