Naughty or Nice

Dir: David MacKay

2012

**

Considering Naughty or Nice is a made for TV Christmas film from the Hallmark channel, it really isn't that bad. It's still fairly awful but in Christmas film terms it's good and in Hallmark channel terms it's an absolute masterpiece. Krissy Kringle (Hilarie Burton) lives on Candy-Cane lane. She is no relation to Santa but due to her name and address, every December she ends up with tons of letters from kids asking for gifts and confirming their good behaviour. Due to some sort of postal error (or is it?) she is sent Santa's magical naughty book and soon begins dishing the dirt and taking advantage of all the naughty people she encounters. This gives the film an angle I've not yet seen in a Christmas movie, most of which share very similar, and rather tired themes. The script is awful and the acting isn't always very good although Hilarie Burton and Gabriel Tigerman are actually quite good together and make a good duo. It does rely rather heavily on familiarity though, particularly as Krissy Kringle's parents are played by none other than Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross. It's a cheap shot but to be honest I liked Family Ties and it was nice to see them reunited. There are some truly terrible Christmas films out there but to be fair this isn't one of them.