Saving Christmas * Humor, Charm, Pure Entertainment! The Next Holiday Classic!
November 4th, 2024
Tired of family chores, and only caring about his gifts, a teenager wishes a little too hard and accidentally makes Christmas disappear! As the only one who remembers its existence, it’s now up to him to bring the holiday back to the world and learn the true meaning of Christmas.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Adele B. comments, “Saving Christmas is pure entertainment and kept a smile on my face until the end! It could easily be the next holiday classic. I like the juxtaposition of funny moments, with more deep and heartwarming ones.” Braedyn M. adds, “Saving Christmas has everything I would expect from a Christmas movie, and some things that I didn’t. Humor, charm, and the holiday spirit give this movie an original Christmas feel, but the mystery and dual reality make it enjoyable not just in December, but throughout the year as well.” See their full reviews below.
Saving Christmas
By Adele B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 10
Saving Christmas is pure entertainment and kept a smile on my face until the end! It could easily be the next holiday classic. I like the juxtaposition of funny moments, with more deep and heartwarming ones. All of the visuals and acting are engaging and definitely draw you in.
The story starts with a glimpse at a typical teenager, Nick (Ricardo Ortiz), annoyed that his computer isn’t working and he could care less about Christmas. Meanwhile, his family is passionately preparing for Christmas and, despite Nick’s lack of enthusiasm, they make him participate.
Nick is shocked while putting up the lights and awakens only to discover that his family has drastically changed and Christmas has disappeared. With tables turned and as the only one who remembers its existence, Nick enlists the help of his best friend Ben (Josh Zaharia) to help him save Christmas and bring the magic of the holiday back to life for his family.
This film definitely kept my attention and I stayed curious wondering what was next in this crazy adventure. Richard Ortiz, as Nick, has great comedic timing and is very relatable. I couldn’t help but root for him in his fight to save Christmas.
It is so touching the great lengths he goes to get his family into the holiday spirit. The camera work is terrific with seamless transitions that make it easy to watch. The sets and props look so realistic and typical of everyday life by a middle class American family. I also enjoyed the costumes, especially when they dress up for Christmas as each outfit s personalized for each member of the family. My absolute favorite costumes are his sister Jojo’s outfits and her hair styles as they perfectly match her personality.
We quickly see the fun relationship that Jojo and Nick have as well as the bond between all of the family members. I love how Nick uses simple items like pom-poms and candy canes all around and his family loves them. It really shows how much he adores his family and the strong bond between them. I love seeing the actors get into their different characters both with and without Christmas. The one shortfall is that the supporting actors didn’t quite stand up to the dynamics of the main characters. Also, I was not so fond of the background music in some scenes and in a few spots the lip movements are out of sync with the person speaking.
The film’s message is to always be grateful for what you have and to appreciate loved ones. It highlights the true meaning of Christmas and how traditions bring us joy. It also reminds us to never give up when we are faced with a challenge, especially if we are fighting for something we truly believe in.
I give Saving Christmas 4 out of 5 and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. This film premieres on VOD and streaming on November 5, 2024.
Saving Christmas
By Braedyn M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16
Saving Christmas has everything I would expect from a Christmas movie, and some things that I didn’t. Humor, charm, and the holiday spirit give this movie an original Christmas feel, but the mystery and dual reality make it enjoyable not just in December, but through out the year as well.
Nick Baker (Ricardo Ortiz) is a 16-year-old boy whose only goals in life are to make movies, and open presents. So when his Mom (Casey James) tosses a thousand and one Christmas chores his way, he wishes for Christmas to disappear.
My favorite character in the film is Nick’s best friend, Ben (Josh Zaharia). No matter what crazy idea Nick has, such as Christmas, Ben tries to find the positive in it. When Nick is late for a film group meeting, Ben tries to reason with the other members, telling them that Nick must have a reason for being late, and not to kick him out of the club. Nick’s family is quite interesting. Each member of their clan brings something different to the table. When Christmas is forgotten, the way they change is fun to watch.
Nick’s younger sister, Jojo (Ella Wejr / Ellexis Wejr), goes from being a regular girl who loves the atmosphere of Christmas, to a professional, business women who is president of the debate club.
Some parts of the film are kind of hard to understand, and make it slightly confusing. For example, in the beginning, we see Nick having the time of his life on his computer, but the montage ends and we see him sleeping at his desk. At first I thought that he only dreamed the whole thing, but later we learn that he often works during the night, as it “brings out his creativity.” Some parts are kind of corny, but nothing that detracts it as a good holiday movie.
The film’s message is that it is better to give than receive. Before Nick erases Christmas, he is on the receiving team when it comes to gifts. But once the holiday is gone, he sees how he took the kindness of others and everything they did for him for granted. Be forewarned that there is a bit of profanity in this film.
I give Saving Christmas 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Saving Christmas flies into theaters on Nov 5, 2024.
The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully…and now they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant. Directed by Dallas Jenkins (The Chosen) and based on the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows six siblings who sneak into church searching for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town pageant. Grace (Judy Greer) is directing the performance for the very first time; she and her daughter Beth (Molly Belle Wright) and husband Bob (Pete Holmes) are in over their heads, especially against a town that wants them to kick the Herdmans out. But the play’s mischievous stars might unwittingly teach a community the true meaning of Christmas. Featuring Lauren Graham. Screenplay by Ryan Swanson, Platte F. Clark and Darin McDaniel.
Based on the best-selling children’s books by acclaimed author and cartoonist Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate), this show follows an adventurous 10-year-old girl named Max who embarks on a quest with her newfound friends to save the Kingdom of Byjovia from ominous forces. Throughout the series, Max leads the rest of the Midknights on challenging quests filled with all-new original songs. After King Gastley steals the throne and forces an unjust rule on the Kingdom of Byjovia, Max must come to the rescue to overthrow the power-hungry foe. With her friends and Uncle Budrick by her side, Max’s courageous spirit won’t back down no matter how difficult the quest gets.
This hilarious and action-packed animated series is an absolute blast for viewers of all ages! Max & The Midknights brings medieval adventure to life. I love how the show combines humor, excitement, and a heartfelt message in a way that captivates both kids and adults. The high-quality animation and clever storytelling make this a must-watch.
The voice acting is top-notch, with a cast that brings the characters to life in a truly dynamic way — including Blu del Barrio as Max, Melissa Villaseñor as Millie, Zeno Robinson as Simon and Caleb Yen as Kevyn. Max is voiced with a perfect mix of sass and sincerity, making her a standout lead character. The 3D animation is stunning, especially during the action sequences, which are full of sword fights, magical duels, and explosive moments.
The world of Max & The Midknights is colorful, immersive, and full of detail, making each scene feel like a mini-movie. One of my favorite parts is the series’ use of humor. The show is genuinely funny, with plenty of clever jokes that will make both kids and adults laugh. Max’s imagination also plays a huge role in the series, adding another layer of fun as she dreams up wild and creative solutions to the challenges she and her friends face. The combination of humor, heart, and action makes it an exciting adventure from start to finish.
The message of Max & The Midknights is about pursuing your true passions, no matter what others may say. Max is determined to become a knight, despite those around her doubting her abilities because she’s a girl. The show encourages kids to follow their dreams and not let anyone tell them they can’t achieve their goals.
This lively musical introduction to French invites kids to dance and sing along to playful rhythms from reggae, merengue, and blues to African soukous, country, and more. The album enhances children’s language skills as they embark on a musical journey to the zoo filled with French-learning fun!
Singing and dancing? Sign me up! Wait, and you learn French at the same time. I love Au Zoo (At the Zoo): French Learning Songs CD. It is amusing, enjoyable, and entertaining. I was having so much fun that I forgot I was learning French at the same time. As soon as the music started, I was up on my feet and didn’t sit down until the entire CD was over.
Included are 20 quirky, fun, and vibrant songs. Artist, Didier Prossaird, has exquisitely mixed an instrumental element with lyrics and lively background noises. I truly felt that I was on a safari at one point! They are all easy to sing along to and remember. I immediately recognized some, such as The Itsy Bitsy Spider. All the lyrics help beginning students learn and understand the French language. It didn’t take me long to sing along to most of the songs. Besides the animal songs, songs like Your Birthday, Happy Father’s, Happy Valentine’s Day, and Happy Back to School are included as well. My favorite songs are My Donkey, Have You Seen Fritzi, and Move and Dance. My Donkey is a silly song about a sick donkey that gets a lot of items from the doctor to feel better. Have You Seen Frizti has a memorable tune that I really enjoyed. Move and Dance made me want to move and dance! Although the songs are geared toward younger children, I was completely engaged and wanting more. Whether you’re a young kid or just someone who loves animals and music, this CD makes learning French enjoyable.
The Au Zoo French Learning Songs CD is an entertaining and creative way to teach the French language to beginners. I enjoyed the wide selection of songs from a variety of genres and found this CD enjoyable from start to finish.
This CD is excellent! All the songs are fun and well written. The lyrics include a lot of beginning French words, and the music uses multiple genres. Everything is designed to help beginning French language students learn vocabulary and pronunciation. My favorite song is La Tortue a Faim, which means The Hungry Turtle, and is about a turtle trying to get across a yard. It is extremely catchy and creative, plus it is very educational and has lots of action words and adverbs. This song uses a lot of repetition as well as call and response methods. The singers are quite talented and have very melodic voices that are a pleasure to listen to. The music includes many different instruments, as well as scatting and whistling which fit the songs perfectly and makes them unforgettable. Many of the songs feature children’s voices, which is great representation for the target audiences and makes the songs even more relatable
I really like the new Au Zoo: French Learning Songs CD! It has catchy beats that are appealing to young kids and includes new and remade classics that make learning a new language a wonderful experience!
My favorite songs are Pour Faire Une Chanson and L’araignée Gypsy. Pour Faire Une Chanson is a song instructing kids about the joy of singing. I love it because the children’s vocals sung by Laura Prossaird make the mood of the song very warm and natural. She makes the children’s vocals imperfect, just as a child would sound singing it. L’araignée Gypsy is a French rendition of The Itsy-Bitsy Spider. It is a bit simpler than the other songs, and still a good song. For kids from an English-speaking country learning French a classic like this would be extremely helpful. Prossaird includes catchy rhythms from a variety of genres — reggae, African soukous, and country music. His rendition of these songs is what makes his songs so enjoyable, even for older kids.
Bookworm follows 11-year-old Mildred (Nell Fisher) whose life takes a wild turn when her estranged father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), a washed-up Las Vegas illusionist, suddenly reappears. Years ago, after a magical encounter with the once-charming Strawn, Mildred’s mom moved back to New Zealand. Now, a comical mishap leaves Strawn caring for Mildred while her mom is hospitalized. Their first adventure? Camping to hunt for the mythological Canterbury Panther. As this mismatched duo navigates the wilderness, magic tricks, and an extraordinary quest, hilarity ensues, and they might just find a way to piece their family back together.
Bookworm is an interesting take on a classic adventure. Full of humor, and surprising twists and turns, Bookworm is a quest with a magical touch that kept me on the edge of my seat.
What I like best about this film is not the scenes, characters, or music; it is how the story is told. The way the action develops is different from most movies; it is broken up into chapters with each one adding depth to the plot. And, the plot isn’t the best. It starts off fine, but changes midway during their adventure. While the twists and turns kept me wondering what would happen next, they also undermine the main idea of the quest, which is to find the panther. Humor plays a crucial role in the film.
With Mildred being a rather to-the-point kid who doesn’t have time for nonsense, her dad, Strawn, is the exact opposite. Trying to practice his magic tricks while Mildred is working hard to set up camp is one example. This movie originated from outside of the U.S. and does some very untypically Hollywood things such as when we are observing the conversations between the characters and suddenly the camera zooms out and focuses on a mushroom. It’s an odd transition but it does help in rounding out the unusual take of a jungle adventure.
The film’s message is that there is always a way to solve a problem. An example of this is how Mildred shows that she is always ready to put her bookworm brain to the test to achieve her goal. Be forewarned that there is some profanity in this film and a bit of blood, but nothing gruesome or gory.
