Sadly Over-hyped

Good movie but grossly overrated

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Northpole is about a boy in a town that has lost it's Christmas spirit. This boy hasn't lost his, though, and he attracts the attention of a Northpole elf (Northpole is a city where Santa and his elves live), who befriends him. Together they must find a way to spread Christmas cheer or else Northpole will lose it's power. Basically they ripped off 2003's Elf. Never mind. Is the movie enjoyable? I would say it is, in general. The best shot in the film is the first one, where the city of Northpole is shown, and then it zooms up to a cliff where Clementine (the elf) is watching the skies with a telescope. In fact, all the scenes in Northpole city look pretty cool. I like the design of it. Unfortunately, most of the film takes place in the boy's town, which is very generic. And the town's not the only thing that's generic: the plot, the characters, and the dialogue are all pretty much standard fare. It's like a Hallmark card; predictable, sentimental, but not overtly tacky.

Wow! The preview scenes were spectacular! And the daily countdown to the movie's airing increased anticipation! OK, finally the movie is airing, and we all ready to enjoy this super fantastic, magical story! Right?Uh-oh! Instead, it immediately begins its continuous and permanent downward plunge!1st Awful: casting the long ago "has been" Robert Wagner...and then his talentless real-life wife, Jill St. John...to play Santa and Mrs. Santa. Additionally, the "has been" Santa was wearing totally black(??)...to cover his skinny body...in the Santa suit as well......and obviously he couldn't even fake a decent, believable "Santa voice" if he tried...so he didn't try. 2nd Awful: Bailee was too old / mature and too tall to play a believable elf with a sweet child-like nature. And she towered over the boy, which gave a clumsy, detracting appearance.3rd Awful: the Plot. I will only say it's was too far-fetched for a young boy to be SO concerned and SO depressed over the town's Christmas tree issue.4th Awful: the enticing preview scenes were unfortunately the majority of "Northpole" scenes..as well as magical effects.There are so many more "Awfuls," so I will say the ONLY good part was: it ended! Apparently, the movie's makers did not consider the possibility that this pathetic movie would be a flop. They never considered being embarrassed either. So they unfortunately went ahead to make a sequel...which I don't believe for a moment will be any better.

"Northpole" is not a bad Christmas special. It's not totally memorable, but it is definitely better than the 1994 version of "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Frosty Returns."The story seems a little scattered, but as it progresses, we end up with a major plot twist which throws things for a loop. Fortunately, of course, things get straightened out.The music is decent, and the location shoots in both Quebec, Canada and Portland, Maine are good. The cast is excellent--but with one exception. I don't consider Robert Wagner's casting as Santa Claus as the best. His voice alone detracts; it's like having Jonathan Hart with long white hair and a white beard. Never mind his negative press over what happened with his late wife, Natalie Wood; he does not seem to project warmth for the role. He might have been better off playing the role of the mayor or the developer.And as for Jill St. John, it is her first acting role in 12 years, and she was there because of her husband. She pulls off her role much better than Mr. Wagner, since I could hear the age in her voice.As said earlier, the rest of the cast is great and they carry the special. Very typical of so much of the Hallmark specials out there, and definitely worth a watch.

I have seen almost every big Christmas movie and the marginally noteworthy ones, Northpole is dead center between the two. In the opening scene on my 60" HDTV, I'd have bet money this was actually a big budget Hollywood blockbuster. The view of "Northpole" was as colorful and bright as any Christmas movie I've ever seen, and that's high praise for a Hallmark Channel production. Mind you, I am not a fan of most Hallmark Christmas movies. They almost always feature Hollywood has-been's, one-hit-wonders who's 15 minutes passed long ago or "never-was's". They're abysmally formulaic, unimaginative and they always look like they had a budget of $12. Here is the entire script of 90% of all Hallmark Christmas movies; There is a jaded woman who's lost her faith in love, a single mom who meets an unassuming man with a heart of gold (like this guy would be single). He rekindles her faith by restoring something in the town, some building or Christmas tradition, or he finds a way to reach the woman's son who has emotional baggage, a disease or he's in a wheelchair...how'd I do? Northpole doesn't break any new ground, and the storyline fits my stereotype more than not. It stars Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell) and Bailee Madison (Once Upon a Time)who is just charming in everything she does, and a host of actors you've never seen before. This movie won't become an annual classic, but you won't likely change the channel either. Take it for what it's worth, a better-than-average made for TV holiday flick and Merry Christmas.