Review by Jon Donnis
"Dashing Through the Snow," directed by Tim Story, attempts to deliver a dose of Christmas cheer with a blend of fantasy and comedy. Unfortunately, despite its festive aspirations, the film falls miserably short of spreading any real holiday joy. The only saving grace comes in the form of some decent costumes; beyond that, the movie is a chaotic mess with a litany of flaws.
The film follows Eddie Garrick (Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges), a social worker haunted by a traumatic childhood incident involving a mall Santa. The plot takes an unexpected turn when Eddie encounters a man named Nicholas Sinter-Claus (Lil Rel Howery), who claims to be the real Santa. From there, the audience is dragged through a tired and poorly executed tale that attempts to mix elements of fantasy, comedy, and Christmas spirit.
One of the film's major shortcomings is the lackluster performances from Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges and Lil Rel Howery. Despite their efforts, the duo fails to inject any life into the poorly assembled family movie. The chemistry between the characters is lackluster, making it difficult for the audience to invest in their journey.
The CGI, particularly that of the reindeer, is a glaring issue. The poorly executed visual effects detract from the already struggling narrative, making it hard to take the fantastical elements seriously. The attempt to " Woke-ify" Santa Claus by portraying him as a black man is just ridiculous, especially when tied to the historical figure of Saint Nicholas, which the film clearly does. Ignoring the fact Saint Nick is a revered Greek Orthodox Saint, a real person, who was a Greek Christian. This choice appears more offensive than innovative and distracts from the supposed holiday cheer. A deliberate choice by the film makers to be woke, but by doing so they insult an entire culture, a historical Saint and Christianity as a whole. Whoever thought this was a good idea should never work in films again. Racism like this should never be accepted.
Despite being marketed as a comedy, the film lacks genuine humor. The script relies heavily on tired clichés, resulting in a story that feels recycled and unoriginal. The plot, riddled with predictable twists and turns, fails to evoke any genuine laughter, leaving the audience with forced smiles at best.
The central plotline involving Eddie, Nick, and a tablet mix-up with a corrupt politician adds little substance to the film. The narrative unfolds predictably, with a rushed and unsatisfying resolution that further contributes to the film's overall lack of depth.
In conclusion, "Dashing Through the Snow" is one of the worst Christmas films to grace the screen. With its shoddy CGI, uninspiring performances, offensive undertones, and a plot devoid of originality, it fails to capture the magic of the holiday season. If you're in the mood for a festive film, look elsewhere – this one is bound to leave you feeling more like a Grinch than a Christmas enthusiast.
I can barely push myself to give this film a 1 out of 10.
Out on Disney +, which I wont even link to, because I am so disgusted by this abortion of a film.
