Can a woman save Christmas when the heir to the North Pole flees?
In short: In the 2019 Disney+ film Noelle, the daughter of Santa Claus must track down her brother, Nick, who abandons his training to become the 23rd Santa. As the North Pole faces a crisis of spirit, Noelle discovers her own hidden potential to lead the holiday legacy into a new era.
Directed by Marc Lawrence, Noelle follows the Kringle family after the death of the 22nd Santa. When Nick Kringle, the heir to the throne, buckles under the pressure of his training and flees to Phoenix, Arizona, his sister Noelle embarks on a journey to bring him home. Her mission is complicated by her cousin Gabriel, a tech-focused elf who attempts to modernize the North Pole by using an algorithm to categorize children as naughty or nice, ultimately identifying only 2,837 children as deserving of gifts.
The film explores themes of legacy and gender roles within the North Pole hierarchy. Upon their return, Nick nominates Noelle as the next Santa. Despite initial controversy, the elf elders unanimously approve her appointment, concluding that no rule explicitly forbids a female Santa and acknowledging her natural aptitude for the role. Noelle eventually succeeds her father as the 24th-generation Santa, while Nick finds fulfillment opening a yoga studio, and Gabriel returns to his preferred role in technical support.
Critical reception of the film was mixed, with reviewers noting its charm while comparing it to other holiday classics. Critics like Tim Robey of The Telegraph likened the narrative to Jon Favreau's Elf, while others, such as Emily St. James of Vox, praised the production design and pacing despite feeling the plot occasionally lacked momentum. The film, which features Anna Kendrick as the titular character and Bill Hader as Nick, was originally slated for a theatrical release before moving to Disney+ for its November 2019 debut.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Noelle (2019 film)
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