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Dear Santa

  • TV Movie
  • 2011
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
Amy Acker, David Haydn-Jones, and Emma Duke in Dear Santa (2011)
Clip: Letter to Santa
Play clip1:12
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3 Photos
DramaHoliday

A young woman from a privileged life falls for a soup-kitchen owner after discovering a Dear Santa letter written by his 7-year-old daughter.A young woman from a privileged life falls for a soup-kitchen owner after discovering a Dear Santa letter written by his 7-year-old daughter.A young woman from a privileged life falls for a soup-kitchen owner after discovering a Dear Santa letter written by his 7-year-old daughter.

  • Director
    • Jason Priestley
  • Writer
    • Barbara Kymlicka
  • Stars
    • Amy Acker
    • David Haydn-Jones
    • Emma Duke
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    3.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jason Priestley
    • Writer
      • Barbara Kymlicka
    • Stars
      • Amy Acker
      • David Haydn-Jones
      • Emma Duke
    • 27User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Dear Santa
    Clip 1:12
    Dear Santa

    Photos2

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    Top cast13

    Edit
    Amy Acker
    Amy Acker
    • Crystal Carruthers
    David Haydn-Jones
    David Haydn-Jones
    • Derek Gowen
    Emma Duke
    • Olivia Gowen
    Patrick Creery
    Patrick Creery
    • Pete Kennedy
    Gina Holden
    Gina Holden
    • Jillian
    James Dugan
    • Frank McCourt
    Margherita Donato
    • Kim
    Brooklynn Proulx
    Brooklynn Proulx
    • Sharla
    Paulina 'Miel' Chmielecka
    Paulina 'Miel' Chmielecka
    • Saleswoman
    • (as Paulina Chmielecka)
    Bob Irvine
    James D. Hopkin
    • Mr. Norman Lockhart
    Dave El Wray
    • Soup Kitchen Grizz
    • (uncredited)
    Kristina Elliott
    • Jennifer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jason Priestley
    • Writer
      • Barbara Kymlicka
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews27

    6.43.2K
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    Featured reviews

    8S1rr34l

    The Christmas Stalker.

    This isn't exactly as it states in the Storyline, they're only small points but I think critical. She doesn't find the letter to Santa it blows past her, she picks it up and calls to the person who dropped it but they've gone before she can give it back. She then opens the letter and reads it and gets the return address, she takes it back on her own accord (not for monetary gain). She's not as bad or as selfish as the Storyline makes her out. This is a good thing as it makes her more agreeable to the viewers.

    Crystal is portrayed well by Amy Acker, of whom I've been a fan of since I saw her in Angel. She was the reason I watched the film, of which I'm glad as the description didn't do the film justice.

    She works really well with Emma Duke who played Olivia Gowen, the daughter of the love interest Derek. These scenes are well written, acted and directed with humour, warmth, and tenderness.

    There are some good bits throughout the film, though my favourite is the "Whipp-Off" where Amy Acker and Gina Holden have a baking showdown. Awesome.

    You could watch this film with the family or just cuddled up with your love. Much better than I expected and I would watch again.
    8Sober-Friend

    Cute

    Shopaholic Crystal's (Amy Acker, Alias) wealthy parents give her an ultimatum: change her irresponsible ways by Christmas or they will cut her off without a cent. With no job or romantic prospects, what's a party girl to do? Fate intervenes when she finds seven year-old Olivia's (Emma Duke) letter to Santa asking for a new wife for her widowed dad Derek (David Haydn-Jones). Crystal tracks them down and vows to win over father and daughter before the fast-approaching holiday deadline.

    This is a nice little film. It has lots of spirit and charming actors. It has more depth than your average Christmas Movie!

    When you see it pop up on television WATCH IT. You will enjoy this.
    10frankieyeahbaby-846-400286

    What a wonderful Christmas love story !!!!!

    I recommended this movie to about a dozen people, and every single one of them loved it and watched it at least a second time. Most movies that I watched that were billed to be a Christmas movie either had a plot that had too little mention of Christmas or showed very sporadic scenery that just didn't remind you that you were actually watching a Christmas movie. Not Dear Santa, it was sprinkled throughout the movie perfectly. It is exactly what it was meant to be. A beautiful love story centered around Christmastime with great character acting and a wonderful, quick moving storyline. Romantic, cute, funny, sad, happy, covers all the emotional bases and even has a beautiful song in it, too. And don't be surprised if your eyes well up once or twice .....
    8DaysofOdumba

    Better than you'd think!

    Formulaic, cheesy, cliché'd and wonderful. Maybe it is all of the afore mentioned, but it is Christmas! Surprisingly well cast with Amy Acker stealing your heart as the rich girl gone good, and a nice turn by Haydn-Jones as the love interest. Gina Holden is excellent in the evil queen personage and Olivia Gowan is not allowed by director Jason Priestly to over act (which is sometimes the problem with made for TV productions) and she does wonderfully. Appreciative nods also must be given to Peter Creery in the role of matchmaker...

    A sweet movie not to be taken seriously, and something you can watch with your child or your girlfriend.
    9koolmeme

    The Meet Cutest!!!!!!

    Love this movie. Plot is totally predictable like 90% of every other movie in the IMDb. Widower dad adorable daughter wants Santa bring daddy new mommy spoiled rich girl finds letter to Santa yadda yadda ...

    But who cares? Great execution by everyone involved. Amy Acker lights up every scene. Jason Priestly smartly keeps the camera on her most of the time. The father/daughter pair are cast perfectly and play off of each other well. The antagonist girlfriend hits just the right note. The LGBTQ character plays beyond stereotype effectively. Production values are passable. Hard to imagine a better Hallmark/Lifetime-like movie.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    James Stewart, Donna Reed, Beulah Bondi, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, and Thomas Mitchell in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    Holiday

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Crystal is checking her mail near the end of the film, the zip code on the top letter reads 701209. The last five digits transposed backwards read 90210, the show that the director, Jason Priestley, starred in during the 1990s.
    • Goofs
      During the opening title sequence Crystal is Christmas-shopping and takes out her iPhone to loot at her shopping list via the iPhone-notes app. Although nearly every shop sports Christmas window-displays, the phone shows "Today 31 Mar" in the note.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Cinema Snob: Dear Santa (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Tonight
      (uncredited)

      Music by Mitch Lee

      Sung by Jocelyn Alice

      Published by Locash Records (2011)

    Top picks

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 26, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Una esposa para papá
    • Filming locations
      • Calgary, Alberta, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Nomadic Pictures
      • ITV America
      • Johnson Production Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$3,950,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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