Grumpy Old Santa

A new gem for the holiday season. Grumpy Old Santa is a family Christmas Comedy but it really is so much more. There are a lot of in depth layers which hit all the human emotions. It's got a lot of those profound meaningful and powerful moments that teach us about moral life lessons through the choices of our character. This movie made me smile, laugh, and also warms the spirit. At the essence of the core Grumpy Old Santa is full of heart. The actors all did great work in creating depth to their character portrayals. Their chemistry with one another really showed in their performances. It was unique, moving, and well written and had me smiling and laughing throughout the end.

Enjoyable film set in small-town East Texas. I rank it a couple of notches above the Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movies, for a couple of reasons: first, this film carries the authenticity of being shot on location, and nicely conveys the atmosphere and quirkiness that small towns have. Friendships are key, but grudges are also held. (My parents are both from small towns, and I can tell you that memories there are long.)

Second, unlike most Hallmark type films, "GoS" doesn't ignore the religious basis of Christmas in favor of lights and decorations. The main character's best friend is a pastor and we get not one but two Christmas Eve services in the course of the film. (The company producing the film is "Ichthys," which should provide a clue.)

I hope you like bowling, because there are lots and lots of bowling scenes in this film. Much of the plot, in fact, takes place at the town's bowling alley. The acting overall is slightly hammy, though I think Glenn Morshower does a good job as the main character coping with a major life change. In particular, I liked the detail in the scenes set after the breakup of his marriage that show him living in a trailer instead of his former home; no reference is made to this in the script, but the point is made if you look for it.

Kimberly Williams, in the role of the first wife who is the instigator of the plot, is stuck with a somewhat thankless role but does her best with it.

Overall, would recommend. If you're looking for a light Christmas movie with some romance, give this a try.

This is not only a great Christmas movie with a heart warming message but also an entertaining sports movie and a fun comedy. The film was directed and shot well and the characters are fun, realistic and contain a nice level of depth. It was a joy to see the actors put their experiences into the roles and help bring them to life. The story contains universal themes and truly had something for the kids hole family. Spike and Deuce are a hilarious duo and Kris and Nic bring that strong friendship to life and we want to keep hanging out with them! Tim is great as the new guy. Maddie played the sweet daughter wonderfully and Julie as Kris' wife was also sweet and Penny did well in her role too. Sandy was very strong with her tough cop personality and played the emotional scenes to perfection.

"Grumpy Old Santa" is a heartwarming movie that I would give a solid 10 out of 10 stars, especially for a 10-year-old to enjoy. The reason I loved it so much is because it touches on real-life situations, just like how people's feelings and relationships can change over time.

The story revolves around a husband who works away at an oil rig while his wife, after 30 years of marriage, starts feeling lonely and not romantically in love anymore. She leaves him, and five years later, returns with a new boyfriend, which makes her husband move on with his best friend's younger sister. This leads to some jealousy and drama, but ultimately, it's a tale of forgiveness and rekindling relationships.

The best friend, who also happens to be the local priest, adds a lot of funny and cheesy dad humor to the mix. He, along with the husband, goes fishing regularly, making their friendship an important part of the story.

The movie also centers around a bowling competition to raise funds for local underprivileged kids during Thanksgiving and Christmas, emphasizing the importance of community and giving back. It's a film that teaches us about life's ups and downs while delivering a heartwarming message of forgiveness and the value of coming together as a community during the holiday season. A great movie for a 10-year-old to watch and enjoy!

Enjoyed this film quite a bit, it wasn't over the top with theatrics, it was a simple good family comedy that had me and my wife laughing, plus it being a local east Texas shot film is pretty awesome too. Tons of great moments throughout this film from beginning to end. The acting through most of the film was pretty well done, in some parts it did seem some what like a soap opera than a film. Crew did well because the visuals look great.

All around there were some places that I felt could have used more attention to make it look better visually but none the less it was still great. 7/10 .....