Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Saving Santa Blu-ray Movie Review

Christmas cheer.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 18, 2014

Christmas is a day that holds all time together.

If insanity may be defined as doing the same thing over and over, then the Christmas season certainly qualifies, as do the misadventures of one little elf who does what he can -- over and over -- to save Christmas from an evil delivery baron. Saving Santa is a charming little Christmas film featuring the voices of Martin Freeman, Tim Conway, Tm Curry, Joan Collins, and Ashley Tisdale that blends simple animation, music, and a story packed with equal parts humor, heart, and harrowing action set against the backdrop of Christmas Eve and the exploration of the age-old question of just how, exactly, Santa manages to cram so many visits to so many houses into so few hours. It's safe, reliable family fun, nothing particularly new or noteworthy but a worthwhile little endeavor that the young ones should enjoy for years to come as part of their holiday film rotation.

The secret.

Bernard (Freeman) is an elf who is stuck in a dead-end, thankless job picking up after Santa's reindeer. In his spare time, he's a wannabe inventor who attends the annual elf invention symposium. This year, his colleagues are wary of his latest invention after last year's disaster. But when it looks like his gadget works -- it's a device disguised as a Christmas ornament that can recreate the user's fondest holiday memory -- he's briefly hailed as a hero until it reveals a few secrets other elves don't want known. So it's back to the stables for Bernard where he has a chance run-in with Santa (Conway) himself, who inspires confidence in Bernard's inventing abilities and shares with him the secret of his annual Christmas Eve traveling success: a time-travelling device disguised as a snow globe. It's not long thereafter that an evil shipping magnate named Neville Baddington (Curry) invades the North Pole in search of answers as to Santa's ability to deliver so many gifts to so many places and to so many people in so short a window. The fast-thinking Bernard quickly springs into action, sending himself back in time in hopes of preventing the invasion and saving Christmas. Does he have what it takes to be a hero, or will Baddington get the best of him, again and again?

There's nothing remotely magical or even all that memorable about Saving Santa -- it plays with the same vibe as does most every other Christmas cookie-cutter animated movie -- but it shows some heart and spirit, plays with a little bit of novelty, answers an all-important question, and ends on a very sweet, touching, full-circle note that really makes the experience worthwhile. Even if it's not a burgeoning classic, audiences can take solace in the film's carefree nature, its underlying tenderness, its simple yet nicely developed characters, and its family-friendly approach to holiday humor. The movie is as inviting as it is colorful, as whimsically funny as it heartfelt and sincere, creating not necessarily a sense of wonder or even immersion but rather a general satisfaction at a job well done for a movie that really knows that just being charming and sweet is sometimes enough. The film does what it does well and leaves nothing on the table, providing solid family fun that the target audience should enjoy.

The film is technically solid, too, enjoying the expected barrage of cheery colors and fine digital workmanship. It's certainly not Pixar level -- the animation isn't too terribly complex -- but it manages to create a vibrant, if not somewhat limited-in-scope, world in which its characters work and play and travel through time. Everything in the movie -- even the most "challenging" scenes -- manage to include some sort of Christmas decoration or cheer, with everything from interrogation rooms to zip lines made of some sort of holiday-inspired details. The voice acting is up to par, with a solid cast that does well in giving shape to their characters and injecting the movie with an appropriate sense of wonder, joy, and excitement. Whatever the script demands, they're up to the task and help round a hearty little holiday movie into enjoyable shape.

Saving Santa Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Saving Santa's 1080p transfer satisfies basic animation Blu-ray requirements. While there are a few jagged lines and a hint of aliasing on straight lines -- they're particularly noticeable on eyeglasses -- the image otherwise looks quite good, with bright, cheerful colors throughout, with an abundance of red particularly popping off the screen at regular intervals. The image favors a slight warmth, helping to create a more inviting mood. The remainder of the palette -- Christmas greens but also a nice bit of additional color -- also appears well balanced and bright. Details are about as good as the animation allows. Hair is clumpy and mostly indistinct by its nature, but various surfaces and clothes see some solid wear and texture. This isn't a reference grade digital animated transfer, but it will satisfy most viewers with its basic technical proficiency and color vibrance.

Saving Santa Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Saving Santa enjoys a spirited and technically sound DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. There's a good dominant front-end musical presence, with the orchestral score yielding commendable clarity and precision detail throughout the range. The track features a few nicely supportive environmental effects that help better define its North Pole environments, whether minor background commotion or snoring reindeer in stables. The track features a handful of heavier action-style sound effects, usually tied in with various Christmas inventions that cause a bit of sonic ruckus when used. Santa's time travel device delivers a particularly potent pulse through the listening area. Dialogue delivery is smooth and precise whether considering basic speech or musical number lyrics.

Saving Santa Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Saving Santa contains several minor supplements. Inside the case, Blu-ray buyers will also find a DVD copy of the film.

• Recording Sessions (1080p, 4:40): A look inside the sound studio featuring the voice actors working their magic. Talents showcased include Martin Freeman, Tim Conway, and Ashley Tisdale.
• Music Video (1080p, 2:51): "Some Kind of Miracle" by Ashley Tisdale.
• Why Saving Santa? (1080p, 5:49): A brief making-of that examines story basics, voice actors, characters, music, visual style, and the film's family appeal.

Saving Santa Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Saving Santa isn't really at all ambitious and not particularly memorable, but it does everything well, from its story and script to its characters and voice acting. It's fun and friendly, easy on the eyes and ears and suitable for the entire family. While it may not live on for decades to come as a Christmas season staple, audiences could do much worse and anyone looking for something new this Christmas is encouraged to give it a spin. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Saving Santa features solid video and audio. Supplements are limited in number and content but will fill in a few minutes worth of extra time. Recommended.