The Naughty Nine

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.

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.

Let me begin with the positives first because there aren't too many. The sets in this movie are probably the best I've ever seen for a Christmas film, which is unfortunate because the rest of this movie is complete garbage. Not only does this movie teach kids to be naughty, but it also represents everything that Christmas shouldn't be. And Danny Glover as Santa? Really? Not that I'm opposed to it, but why him? He comes across as judgmental and unforgiving, contradicting everything Santa is known for. I simply don't understand why this movie spends almost its entire runtime teaching children to misbehave, steal, and lie, and then, in the last 5 minutes, Danny Glover appears at the very end, telling the naughty kids that he needs their help, with no explanation whatsoever. Sure, the naughty kids might learn their lesson to some extent, but to have an entire movie completely undermine the essence of Christmas and the importance of being good? I don't think this movie sends kids the right messages at all. But as I said, the set design in this movie is the best I've ever seen, and that's the only good thing about it. It seems like Disney wanted to create a naughty Christmas movie to teach kids that it's okay to misbehave.

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.