The Santa Class (TV Movie 2024)

The Santa Class (TV Movie 2024). | TV-G

“Every now and then Hallmark comes up with a really unique idea for their Christmas movies and here is an excellent one. Kimberley Sustad and Benjamin Ayres play Kate and Don, who have been antagonistic with each other for years after a failed u0026quot;date,u0026quot; but join forces to save Kateu0026#39;s family Santa school. The first half hour of this movie is hilarious. Sustadu0026#39;s wonderful talents for sharp and witty comedy are on full display and who knew Ayresncould be so funny – heu0026#39;s always good, but here he is exceptional. In the second half hour, you meet the ragtag Santa school students, and what a bunch they are. All funny, with their idiosyncrasies, including the real Santa who has lost his memory (played expertly and endearingly by Trevor Leher), and old Grandpa (played nicely by Tom Pickett), a woman-Santa-wannabe (the always good Carmel Amit, willing to forego her attractiveness in this part), and a man who expresses him self through a hand puppet ! No kidding- but itu0026#39;s hilarious. And then the surprise – thereu0026#39;s a very talented Hallmark regular playing himself in a very tongue-in-cheek performance as he goes to the school to researchnhow to play Santa. We are sure heu0026#39;s not this self-absorbed in real life, but you canu0026#39;t tell that from some of the looks he gets from Sustad, his frequent co-star and co-writer in other Hallmark films. All of the other students are well played and funny. Plus, Allesandro Miro shows up with a hilarious performance as Blaise, the schoolu0026#39;s major competitor. This is all extremely well written and nicely directed by Lucie Guest with expensive looking sets.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut, many kudos have to go out to the casting director who engaged these marvelous performers for this movie. They all look like they really enjoyed playing these parts and, together, led by the terrific Sustad and Ayres, they carry it off to perfection. A little Christmas u0026quot;magicu0026quot;, lots of Santas, and lots of fun.”