Another great holiday treasure this year I found on the ION channel. To me A NEW LEASE ON CHRISTMAS was delightful, well executed, and humorous. Becky (Claire Coffee) is so effervescent and her plight is really her delight.
The budding relationship between Jake (George Stults) and his serving up warm "Cups of Joe/Tenderness" to Becky is really quite sweet. Stults always delivers relatable character rooted in truth, goodness, and sincerity. In this family film Jake is trying to save his generational family business; "JAKE'S COFFEE SHOP" in a Chicago like town. Stults is also dealing with the angst of being single dad, pending foreclosure, staffing issues, and the the dynamics of being a parent who's wife is gone during an uncertain time.(I so can relate) He tackles all of these life issues with great compassion. The Jake & Becky relationship is really a master class of the perfect "cute/meet" reminiscent of THE HOLIDAY. I love them together and would enjoy seeing more of there relationship in films to come. The other story lines are woven quite beautifully together. George (Austin Parsons) is hired to be a mall Santa and encounters a unique relationship with a Elfette NIkki(Liz Friedman). I enjoyed this story line so much Nikki the roommate to Becky is your non traditional edgy character not often seen in many cookie cutter holiday movies. Parsons is a delight to watch as he gives some of the most tender moments of his devotion for wild child Nikki. Rounding the story is of the real Kris Kringle in his last performance by Gerry England which was so beautiful to view. I enjoyed the psychiatry session between Doctor & Santa. Dr. Franks (Vincent De Paul) at first a non believer of Santa. De Paul shows such empathy and true counsel to the heart broken, love seeking, Christmas spirited community. I enjoyed his revelation in the end of the movie. Very nice twist. Lastly, Robert (Paul Wilson) is so wonderful as a real estate mogul and father to Nikki. The have their own father/daughter epiphany that makes this film a well thought out holiday classic. The end made perfect sense and wrapped up the conclusion very nicely. I look forward to Christmas movies every year and I personally enjoyed this film the most this holiday season.
