The Naughty Nine

Andy is a smart kid. His schemes keep getting him into trouble. Santa's Naughty List is real and Santa Claus (Danny Glover) puts Andy on it. He recruits 8 other naughty kids to do a heist on Santa's workshop.

It's a Disney Channel TV movie. I recognize one or two of these kids. I don't particularly like any of these characters. I do like the silly concept. At least, it's unique. The execution is another story. It's just so tween in filmmaking. Maybe you have to be that age to like this. There may also be too many kids. Fewer kids would allow each to stand out. In the end, I don't care about all these kids or their scheme by extension.

IN A NUTSHELL: When a young boy finds out he's on Santa's "Naughty" list, he puts together a group of other naughty kids with specific talents for a heist in order to steal their presents from Santa's workshop in the North Pole.

The family-friendly film was directed by Alberto Belli. Writing credits go to Jen Elinoff and Scott Thomas.

THINGS I LIKED: Winslow Fegley is adorable and very talented. He has a bright future in Hollywood. He was also adorable in Lyle, Lyle Crocodile. If you haven't seen that family-friendly movie, check it out! I thought it was super cute!

The rest of the cute cast includes Deric McCabe, Madilyn Kellam, Clara Stack, Camila Rodriguez, Ayden Elijah, Anthony Joo, and Imogen Cohen.

The characters are well-designed and different from one another. They each have unique skills and get their unique learning moment in the movie.

Fantastic sets, especially at the North Pole.

It has all of the adventure and action that kids would want in a movie like this.

Great costume design by Julia Caston.

One of the characters has a really cool tent in his bedroom. You have to look fast! I feel bad for the crew that probably spent a lot of time building it because you only see it on screen for a split second but my sons would have absolutely loved having something like that in their bedrooms.

Anthony Joo's character lives in a beautiful house. Did you see the façade?

We get to see the incredible Aurora Borealis in the sky. I got to see it when I traveled to Iceland a couple of years ago! Amazing.

Ayden Elijah can do those adorable big eyes like Puss in Boots.

Some Latinos sing a traditional Christmas song for everyone. I sang that song when I was an exchange student in Mexico!

Danny Glover as Santa.

I love it movies reference other movies. For example, the two schools in the movie area named McAllister Elementary from Home Alone in 1990 and Griswold Middle School from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation in 1989.

Yep, the movie leaves a very wide-open door for a sequel. I'm up for it!

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: There are some bad acting moments.

Don't get annoyed by all of the plot holes; it's a kid's movie.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Bullying We see a lot of rude, entitled kids do really mean things We hear kids lie a lot One of the kids has gay dads Kids try to convince a good girl that it's dumb to follow rules.

A little boy swears.

Fart sounds Stealing.

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The Naughty Nine is a family movie that is underrated for its underrated sub-genre of children's Christmas movies. The film follows nine children, Andy, Dulce, Andy, and Dulce, who set out to steal their toys from Santa after being denied gifts for being naughty. The film begins as a traditional trope of misfits and hijinks but quickly transforms into an action-packed film as they work together to prove their worth. However, things get complicated as they get over their heads and everything starts to go wrong. The film explores the traits of each character, highlighting why they are on the naughty list. Some characters are silly, like Albert, while others are intense, like Jon Anthony. However, the main issue is not their naughtiness, but their false beliefs about themselves that led to poor decision-making. For Dulce, it's the belief that her parents don't care, for Laurel, it's a lack of self-belief, for Jon Anthony, it's a belief that they're fraud, and for Andy, it's the belief that he can't be good. The film's Christmas atmosphere and themes are relatable, making the audience feel glad they pressed play. Director Alberto Belli and screenwriters Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas effectively weave important topics into the movie without making them too "on the nose." The Naughty Nine is a family movie that teaches valuable lessons about having a good conscience, maintaining strong friendships, believing in others, and the importance of family. It is not just for children, but everyone should see it. The movie ends with Santa, played by Danny Glover, reminding us that we have a chance to make things right and redeem ourselves. The movie is perfect for those who enjoyed other holiday films like Santa Hunters, The Ultimate Christmas Present, and Unaccompanied Minors. The Naughty Nine is a light-hearted comedic film that reminds us that the most important thing to do each day isn't being naughty, but being nice. It's a must-see for everyone, especially those who enjoyed other holiday films like Santa Hunters, The Ultimate Christmas Present, and Unaccompanied Minors. The Naughty Nine TV movie features beautiful production values, with a magical North Pole feel. Digital set extensions, volumetric sets, and computer-animated characters, including reindeer, create a convincing version of Santa's village. The designers add timeless touches, anchored by Danny Glover's portrayal of Santa Claus. The story revolves around naughty kids trying to steal Christmas, with Santa's role as subtle parenting, guiding kids to do the right thing on their own. The Naughty Nine is a Disney story about morality and rightdoing, with the title indicating any wrongdoings. The kids, each with their unique talents, discover how to use their strengths to achieve their dreams, demonstrating the power of teamwork and making dreams a reality.

The Naughty Nine is an enjoyable holiday romp rittled with plot holes, which is somehow held together care of a few strong performances by the child actors playing the title characters. Beware if you have mischievous, thrill-seeking children... This movie offers plenty of inspiration. Some potential fun is sacrificed in service to a plot and pace that feels weighed down by the sheer amount of ground it purports to cover (and the number of characters sharing significant screen time). This reviewer may have dozed off in the latter half but I recall only one of the "Naughty" getting a satisfying redemptive arc, which, again, is a result of a story bogged down by the overall concept. There are fun moments and ideas a-plenty but leaks spring from the plot holes hastily covered with a thin veneer of sugary, peppermint glaze. Some solid performances left this viewer pining for a more concise holiday jaunt, but the 8 year old viewer next to us squealed in delight when the sequel was teased, so Naughty Nine certainly struck a few notes just right. 5.7/10.

Staring the obvious: Home Alone meets Oceans Eleven. Some characters are frustrating cliches (I sincerely cannot handle Jon Anthony) and adults serve merely as plot-furthering side characters, but it's tolerable. If I'm subjected to more watches of it, however, it might wear me down as I have low tolerance for the genre of Precocious Kids Who Manipulate and Outsmart Oblivious Adults genre. As another reviewer mentioned, they try to cram as much individual character development as possible, but that comes at the expense of getting in depth enough for most of them. Also, let's just address the fact that the pilot is clearly to be a Chris Pratt type - I swear this guy must be his body double. I wish it had a touch more edge but I'm not the target audience. Grab some (potent) 'nog and you'll be OK.