Family legacies are a hard thing to deal with sometimes. Expectations being pushed down upon you. Growing up, my father had a car detail business for a short period of time. Within a short amount of years, the business had grown fairly large. Contracts with car dealerships had come pouring in. If you know me, you know that I have no personal interest in cars. To me, they exist. If and when they break down, that is why we have mechanics. When the business started to grow largely, my father started to “groom” me to take over the business. A legacy that started to develop and honestly was very off-putting. I’m thankful that my legacy was small in the grand scheme of things.

Things are a bit larger for the Kringle children in Noelle. Noelle chronicles a rescue mission of the new Santa, Nick (Bill Hader), who goes rogue on the heels of his first holiday. It’s up to his sister, Noelle (Anna Kendrick), to find him and bring him home in time for Christmas. Noelle is every bit a fish out of water story set in the vein of Thor or Wonder Woman. Bringing a foreign individual to an alien land; such characters are bound to experience hijinks. As such happen, the comedic element of Noelle is fairly strong. Kendrick not only leads the reigns in the comedic department but also the charm as well. Kendrick reminds us why we love her so much. Hader, for as little as he is in the movie, is subtle in his delivery. Just think of a more festive Rich Tozier.

Noelle boasts some serious comedic moments, the story is only as strong as its pacing and narrative. This holiday feels like a treat to unwrap. Being presented with a rescue mission that develops into something more as it progresses. That progression can feel a bit predictable at times and even a tad unnecessarily political. The mythos for the film layout only a Kringle male can take the reigns. When Hader’s replacement of, cousin, Gabe Kringle (Billy Eincher) – the film starts to trend off into pointless politics. The scene is very far and few between that the movie dares to randomly bring it back up in the hopes the viewer hasn’t forgotten about this subplot. There are also other characters that fall into such traps as well.

Overall, Noelle, isn’t exactly what you wanted for Christmas but it isn’t exactly coal either. A Christmas movie with a decent mythology, a great leading cast in Bill Hader and Anna Kendrick, and enough charm to smell through the wrapping paper. Noelle is a smart film with witty humor, great charm, and an engaging narrative. It is in every way the Christmas movie of this generation. The themes of equality within our own world mirror wonderfully in this charming atmosphere of holiday joy. Noelle is destined for great things. Though, it has a weird subplot that pollutes its charm. Randomly showing back up like the annoying house fly that can’t seem to die. Throw in a couple of pointless and two-dimensional characters and the coal starts to form. However, Noelle could be what you wanted for Christmas this year.

RORSCHACH RATING

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