Dear Santa Movie Review

‘Dear Santa’ is quite possibly the sweetest movie you’ll see this year, or the next… or the next.

The movie opens with children talking about Santa Claus. Essentially, they’re being interviewed (you’ll see their replies more than once) about who Santa is and what he does. The kids vary in age, but no matter how old they are, they know who Santa is and how important he is. Some of the responses are so adorable, you’ll rewind and watch them again. The delightful little voices inform the person asking that Santa lives in the North Pole and gives gifts to children worldwide, as long as they aren’t bad, of course. They explain with confidence that he has eight or nine Reindeer, goes on the roof, eats the cookies, you know the drill. That’s the introduction.

Next, we are at a school in Pearce, Arizona, with a teacher and her students reading their letters to Santa aloud. Then they’re collected and taken to the Post Office by the mailman. The mailman is Santa’s helper, don’t you know? The kids tell us that letter carriers are the only people who know where Santa lives.

Were you aware that letters to Santa have been written for 150 years now? This is a little tidbit you’ll learn while watching. Throughout ‘Dear Santa,’ you’ll get morsels of information popping up on the screen about the main subjects. An exciting little snippet tells us that starting in 1907, Santa, being so popular, had to approach the U.S. Postal Service about helping deliver the letters. The messages that Santa has been receiving each year are in the hundreds of thousands now. He was overwhelmed. He couldn’t possibly get to all those letters AND the toys out in time for Christmas morning if he didn’t get some more help. It would have been terrible to expect it of him. So, he went to the USPS, who agreed to help. They created a colossal and growing, nationwide program called ‘Operation Santa.’ At the Pearce Post Office, Bill is a big part of this program, illustrating that he’ll get every one of the letters up to the North Pole for Santa because he too wants them answered on time. He is considered an Elf.

We meet other Elves along the way. Employees and Post Office locations throughout the country have happily gotten involved in Operation Santa. They open and read the letters, which they say are all very polite, and then sort them so the ‘Adopter Elves’ can easily pick out which ones they want to take. That means that people go to events held for the purpose of paying it forward, sit, and read the letters. They see which ones touch their heart, discuss what they can afford, and fulfill a need in a desperate home.

In Chicago, after an intense interview with Santa himself, Janice landed the job as Lead Elf. Since Santa suddenly trusted her with the position, she felt as though she had won the lottery. Janice tells us all about the program there. She acquaints us with certain Adopter Elves we then follow after they’ve collected their letter or letters. Some pick just one; others choose dozens. Jen, Matt, and Ashley have quite an impressive operation going. After being touched by the program, in 2006, they formed their own non-profit to help Santa on a larger scale. Thank God these individuals exist. Without them, millions of kids would go without.

Here, we’re presented with a few cases where the filmmakers traveled throughout the United States to follow what happens between where a letter originated, to the completion of the child receiving their gift. Did I say child? Actually, adults write letters, too. This is focused on, as well.

The scenes where adults and children are presented with their gifts are considerably moving. I defy you not to, at least, tear up. People gathering and opening their gifts are the best part of the movie because you get a sense of joy and fulfillment when you see the shock on their faces. You also see how rewarding it is to be providing these gifts. People plan their year around this! With what we’re going through in the world today, it was a beautiful sight to see, and I’d like to see more of it. I’d also like to tell you more about ‘Dear Santa’ but won’t. Trust me when I say this is a must-see, especially right now.

I hope all is well and the Christmas spirit is within you as it is in the people in this film. I’d be honored to know them. Get to know them yourself by watching ‘Dear Santa’, which is in select theaters now and also on VOD.

*If you’re thinking of becoming an Elf, go to the USPS Operation Santa site and check it out!