Ham-handed with no small measure of inauthenticity, it's also unmistakably over the top, not least of all where special effects are concerned. Moreover, before 10 minutes have passed the movie has launched into the core of the plot; rare is the feature that jumps into its narrative so quickly. All this follows from Christmas movies, and family friendly movies, yes - but still films defy assumptions sometimes with just how forthright they can be. For all that, though, there's also some surprisingly astute writing on hand. The screenplay concocted between star Brielle Carter and director Christian Cashmir is filled with unexpectedly smart dialogue, wholly leaning into the tale's flavor with substantial puns and wordplay revolving around holiday season staples. We also get capable and amusing scene writing, and a weirdly engrossing story. There's no reason 'Elfette saves Christmas' should be even half as good as it is, but in no time at all, I honestly rather liked it.
Though direct and gauche, this a cheesy but delightful bit of silly fun. Kept at a level appropriate for young audiences, we're nonetheless treated to notions including corporate malfeasance and criminality, betrayal and loyalty, and the frankly absurd progression and exaltation of consumer technology. More care than I could have guessed was put into all details - costume design, hair and makeup, props, music, and more. I think the cast is actually really great as they all happily indulge in the playful story being told. That especially goes for Carter as the title character, doing well to embody the protagonist's jubilant naivete and determination, and Alea Figueroa as Sparkle, showing a bit more force of personality as a more knowledgeable and experienced elf. Though constrained by the nature of the feature, I think the assembled actors turn in fine performances with suitable range and poise.
It's certainly not perfect. Scenes are straightforward, written and executed so neatly that the narrative becomes a sequence of events only movie magic could have conjured. There's a certain tinny timbre to the sound design at times, especially when actors are speaking. And though 'Elfette saves Christmas' is focused more on plot than characters, it also doesn't give as much attention as it could to the heroine's innocence, the "fish out of water" aspect of the story. Why, Elfette herself is strangely deemphasized at times; for a movie named after her, at some critical moments the picture is less concentrated on her than it should be.
For any indelicacies and flaws, however, this is much more enjoyable than I anticipated. Many similar pictures have wholly failed to spark joy, or our imagination - so completely indulging in kitsch and heavy-handedness as to dampen all meaningful engagement. But Cashmir and Carter, and all others involved, have successfully crafted a holiday family comedy that manages to balance its constituent elements with just enough dexterity to be a genuinely pleasing movie experience. No, it's hardly an essential classic; you don't need to go out of your way to find this, and it's not exactly a riveting barnburner. Yet even with its faults, 'Elfette saves Christmas' is much better and more entertaining than it has any right to be, and not a bad way to spend 96 minutes for any viewer who is receptive to this type of feature.
