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hoops&yoyo Ruin Christmas
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Hallmark stars bring the funny to sweet holiday special.
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What's the Story?
On a snowy Christmas Eve night, Hoops (voiced by Mike Adair), Yoyo (Bob Holt), and their friend Piddles (Bev Carlson) sit atop their roof in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Santa (Dave Parke) himself. What they get instead is the adventure of a lifetime when they accidentally hitch a ride in Santa's sleigh and fall into a time-space continuum that takes them back to Kris Kringle's (Mike Monken) days as a less-than-confident amateur toymaker. Suddenly the mischievous friends face the challenge of getting the reluctant Kris back on track to fulfill his destiny as Santa and to save Christmas for the whole world.
Is It Any Good?
There's nothing traditional or predictable about these adventures, but with Hoops and Yoyo, that's pretty much the point, and their comical style does nothing to diminish the holiday cheer. Kids might not recognize this comical pink kitty and green bunny of Hallmark greeting card and e-card fame, but older viewers who've been on the receiving end of their hilarity might want to tune in just to see the characters' take on the holiday. The dynamic duo and their mostly silent sidekick bring a unique style of mayhem to this spirited special, which is sparkling with happy messages for viewers young and old about the true meaning of Christmas.
Watching the holiday classics is a given, but it's always fun to mix in a fresh take on holiday stories, and Hoops and YoYo don't disappoint with their interpretation of how Santa came to exist from the humble beginnings of a stable boy named Kris Kringle. The sweet story inspires even as its colorful stars keep the audience in stitches with their antics and their observations about, well, everything around them. The result is a holiday treat for families that's a little out of the ordinary in the best possible ways.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the holidays. What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? How do they reflect your family's cultural or religious background? How do you incorporate the spirit of giving into your holiday activities?
Kids: Were you familiar with these characters before watching this show? If so, did knowing of them ahead of time make you want to watch? Do you think this movie is a form of advertising?
If you could write a story about the holidays, what subject would you choose? Would you explain how a tradition came to be or tell a back story about a famous character? How do stories like these inspire our imagination?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 26, 2011
- Cast: Bev Carlson , Bob Holt , Mike Adair
- Director: Tony Craig
- Studio: Hallmark Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Holidays
- Run time: 22 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
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